I was reading newspaper story about a 15 year old boy from Guatemala who tried to make his way to the US so he could join a brother in a northern state. His goal was to work and send financial help to his family back home. He died of exposure 1 mile south of the Texas border. It reminded me of a story I was told about my Dad after his death. During the depression families had trouble getting enough to eat. My Dad,then 16, was from a large family that lived about 20 miles south of Dallas Texas. He had a brother in the Navy in Newport Rhode Island. The Navy had initiated a program where kids could sign up early. It was designed to help feed kids that would otherwise be hungry. Dads brother arranged for him to join but he had to get to Newport. With almost no money, Dad set out on the 1750 mile journey on foot. This boy was vulnerable to weather, mountains, prairies, unscrupulous people and other bad things. He walked,hitchhiked and jumped trains but finally made it to the side of his brother in Rhode Island. There must have been several people who had compassion on him in one way or another. I have heard stories about kind people along the railroads and rural roads that would share with others as they drifted from place to place looking for food and work. I am glad that those people were kind to my Dad on his perilous journey. I know there is no easy answer to dealing with the kids on our border. I hope that what transpires for them is both kind and positive..
Posted on: Sun, 06 Jul 2014 03:42:22 +0000
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