Early Childhood Center student Matthew Hernandez honored as a Hero

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Eagle Pass community leaders honored five-year old Early Childhood Center student Matthew Hernandez as a hero at a ceremony held on Monday, December 15, 2014, at the Early Childhood Center Campus in Eagle Pass, Texas, for alerting his family members of a fire inside their home on December 5th and assisting them to get out of the burning home.

Hernandez had earlier this year visited the Eagle Pass Fire Department Central Fire Station and remembered the lessons taught to him by Eagle Pass Fire Department personnel in alerting and assisting his family members. Hernandez’s heroic action saved the lives of his parents, little sister, and a grandfather.

The Hernandez family home burned to the ground in a December 5th fire.

Little Matthew Hernandez was honored by the City of Eagle Pass, Eagle Pass Fire Department, Eagle Pass Police Department, Maverick County Sheriff’s Department, and the Eagle Pass Independent School District as a hero for his extraordinary valor and heroic actions during the December 5th fire at his home.

Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu honored Matthew Hernandez for his valor and fire safety measures in saving his family’s lives and named him Honorary Mayor of Eagle Pass for the day.

Also honoring Matthew Hernandez were Eagle Pass Fire Department Chief Manuel Mello, Eagle Pass Police Department Chief Alberto Guajardo, Eagle Pass City Manager Gloria Barrientos, Eagle Pass Independent School District Superintendent Gilberto Gonzalez, Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees Hilda Martinez and Humberto Torralba, Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber, other safety officials, and his fellow students and faculty at Early Childhood Center.

During the presentation, little Matthew Hernandez received a surprise visit from the Eagle Pass Police Department’s Blue Santa and his Little Elf Lisa Cain presenting him with a new bicycle in honor of his heroic actions. Hernandez gave a big smile upon receiving his new bicycle from Blue Santa.

The City of Eagle Pass Fire Department and the Eagle Pass Independent School District participate in a series of events during the school year to educate children on fire safety and prevention measures, including visits to the Eagle Pass Fire Department Central Fire Station during National Fire Prevention Week in October.

Any person wishing to make a charitable donation to the Hernandez family for their losses sustained in the December 5th fire may do so at the Early Childhood Center, located at 636 Kelso Drive, in Eagle Pass, Texas or call (830) 758-7027.