SAN DIEGO, Ca. - The governor, the San Diego Chargers and a cheering crowd of 60,439 football fans consoled and thanked four National Guard Citizen-Soldiers in pre-game ceremonies here Oct. 28.
Despite personal losses from the Southern California wildfires, the four members of the California Army National Guard stayed on duty.
Pvt. 1st Class Edgar Rivera's cousin died saving his 9-month-old sister's life; both Sgt. Jerrod Dett and Pfc. Ryan Adams lost their homes; and Pfc. Eliza Bealer was evacuated from hers. Yet the four declined to be relieved of their duties, insisting on remaining with the more than 2,000 National Guard Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen who are assisting civilian authorities fighting the wildfires.
"It's a very devastating thing," said Rivera, whose cousin dropped his 9-month-old sister from a second floor window into his uncle's arms but could not save his own life. "I can't be selfish. There's other families out there that are having problems; more than I do. They lost their home and their family. It's my duty."
For Dett, the deciding moment came out on patrol. "When I saw these evacuees trying to come up the hill and being turned away, I felt that my duty was I needed to help these people," he said.
Bealer agreed: "Not only is it my duty, it's the reason I joined the National Guard," she said.
Struck by what he saw members of the San Diego community doing for each other, Adams felt a part of something bigger than himself. "I'm overwhelmed by the support of everybody," he said. "People have been letting random strangers stay in their houses."
Adams said he's had offers of accommodation and even money from fellow Soldiers who've reached out to support him.
As he stood on the field, then shook hands with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Adams was teary-eyed. Rivera said he felt blessed. Nearby, Bealer fought to restrain her emotions. "This community came together so great," she said. "I'm very proud of this state."
The Soldiers stood alongside firefighters, police and other public servants also honored before the game the same people that National Guard Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen have been assisting in joint efforts throughout the Southern California wildfire fight.
The crowd thanked the Guard, and the Chargers beat the Houston Texans 35-10 in the game at Qualcomm Stadium, which had housed 11,000 evacuees earlier in the week.
National Guard members provided security at the stadium while it was an evacuation center. They helped process tons of donated supplies at the stadium. Closer to the fires, they were still patrolling evacuated neighborhoods, dropping water from helicopters, dropping retardant from aircraft and performing numerous other duties even as the football game continued.
The four Guardmembers honored at the game returned to duty afterwards, helping to provide communications, performing administrative functions and providing other assistance to their communities.
"I was told that I didn't have to stay," Adams said. "It's just what I was taught to do. I'm not trying to be heroic or anything. I'm just trying to do my part."