By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
What did Uvalde mean to you?
Up until May 24, 2022, what did the small city that served as break on our journey to San Antonio and parts beyond on US Highway 90 mean to you as a Del Rioan? Was it just a place to stretch your legs, fuel up and grab a snack? Was it a place to go to college, not too far from home but far enough you could feel your independence for the first time? Was it a place to play sports whether it was in the historic Honey Bowl or the manicured baseball fields or even in a gymnasium where your playoff dreams hoped to continue another day?
For me, it was all of that. I have fond memories of stopping at a diner there in Uvalde, on the way to San Antonio when the speed limit was 55 and a day trip was an all-day affair. Mom and dad would drink their coffee and I would chow down on breakfast, fighting to stay awake but knowing as soon as we were back on the road I would nod off to the humming of the asphalt.
Then on the morning of May 24, 2022, all of that changed.
Now Uvalde is a statistic, a reminder that the world we live in can be cruel for those most innocent of humans and that despite leading good and honest lives, evil can always uproot them and change our world forever. On that day, 19 children and two adults lost their lives when an angry teenager, determined to show the world he mattered, entered Robb Elementary School and opened fire.
In the days that have passed we have all seemed to cycle through the stages of grief, but as the first funerals of those victims begin this week, we should remember that in every dark moment there’s a light of hope that reminds us good people can be found when things seem the worst.
There’s Del Rio’s LeRoy Briones of Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home. It was people outside the funeral home who were the first ones to be shot at by the gunman, and it was the funeral home where children ran to for safety because it sets just across the road from the school. In the wake of the shootings, Hillcrest announced funeral services would be held at no charge for the families who wanted them. It was a gesture that kept those families focused on the thing that mattered most – their loved one who was taken far too soon.
I reached out to LeRoy for a chance to talk. He didn’t respond initially, but I reminded him last Wednesday that he was a good man and a light in this time of darkness. He “loved” the comment, and his only words so far to me were, “It’s been a crazy 24 hours.”
The tragedy in Uvalde hit even closer when it was learned that the daughter of schoolteacher Eva Mireles, who was gunned down protecting her students, was working with the staff of Val Verde Regional Medical Center. Her colleagues, who didn’t grow up with her or go to school with her, immediately spread the word of a GoFundMe set up to aid in funeral expenses.
Two days following the shooting, Joe Garcia, the husband of Irma Garcia, the schoolteacher who was also killed while trying to save those children at Robb Elementary, died of a sudden heart attack. Friends and family said he died of a broken heart after losing Irma who was his high school sweetheart. The couple left behind four children, ranging in age from 23 to 12, but a GoFundMe set up for the family has already generated more than $2.5 million from more than 46,000 donations. Like Mireles, the Garcia deaths affected Del Rioans as Joe worked for H-E-B here in our city.
In the wake of tragedy, Del Rio did its best to respond to the call for help. Sheriff’s deputies from the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Del Rio Police Department joined the hundreds of other law enforcement officers in helping with whatever needed to be done. Del Rioans donated blood, sold items with proceeds going to aid Uvalde, and workers from businesses such as Whataburger, Starbucks and Walmart all traveled to Uvalde to pick up shifts to allow employees there a chance to grieve and be with their loved ones.
On Saturday, a group of cooks traveled to the Southwest Texas Junior College campus to set up and cook about 700 chickens to serve the law enforcement officials in the area. According to Lupe Costilla, who helped organize and lead the cooking, it didn’t take long for those birds to find their way to the tired and hungry folks who needed them.
We often see ourselves isolated from the rest of the world because of our proximity to the next biggest city. Often, Del Rio is only in the news when something bad has occurred, but this community’s response to a tragedy none of us could fathom should be a reminder of the beauty and the heart this city has.
Thank you to all of you who helped. We are lucky to have you.
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Brian Argabright is the editor of The 830 Times and serves as its sports editor as well. He has more than 25 years in the journalism industry and has called Del Rio home for roughly 43 of his 45 years on earth. Contact him at drnhsports@gmail.com
