More often than not, the American public is bombarded with horrifying stories of neglect, murder and the apathy of today’s youth.  But buried in the rubble of such headlines as Youth charged in Franklin stabbing investigation  and Two year old boy struck and killed by car on Naval Station Norfolk was a story worth reading; a story that does more than feed the tragedy seekers’ gruesome curiosity.  It feeds our souls.  It gives us hope that our children are not doomed to a life of apathy and over-stimulated social numbness.

Our hero is a 6 year old boy, a brave child who didn’t have to be told how to do the right thing.  He listened to his inner voice, his heart and soul; which sadly for the majority of our falling youth has become a dark, selfish place full of the admiration of criminals and the thrill-seeking desire for violent videos and virtual sadism via film and television.

But Tyler Stephens, whose father, former Police Officer and CEO of Blue Shield, a PI company instilled a sense of justice and right and wrong since early childhood.  His mother has a degree in Childrens’ studies and manages a recreation center so needless to say, Tyler is a well-rounded, socially aware kid.  He showed just how he utilized the positive guidance of his parents when an unexpected tragedy struck the family. 

The Stephens family’s youngest son, Ryan is a bold one and looks up to his big brother Tyler often to a fault.  On this particular summer day, Ryan’s ambition overtook his healthy fear and he jumped into 8 feet of water without a life jacket, which Mr. and Mrs. Stephens require both boys to wear at all times while swimming in the home pool.  Before anyone could stop Ryan from taking the plunge, it was too late, he had begun sinking.

Ironically, there was a bystander in her early twenties who could have easily stopped Ryan from jumping into the deep but it appeared that her apathy overtook her sense of duty as an adult to take action.  Nonetheless, a determined Tyler came to the rescue.  He dove deep into the water in a frantic effort to grab his brother and bring him to the surface.  That struggle under water seemed an eternity to the family. 

Ty said in an interview with WVEC reporter, Shannon Sims, “Sinking, he was sinking… I was swimming all the way over here and pushed him over to the side.”

Luckily Grandma, Sue Serig, was waiting at the poolside to pull Ryan out of the pool once Ty was able to get him above the water and pull him to the safety of the side.

Youngest Stephens’ child, Ryan was not aware of the danger he faced when he dove into the pool without a life-jacket.  He innocently stated  that he “jumped in to practice swimming all by himself.” 

Ty was given the Lifesaving Medal of Honor for saving his brother, an honor normally reserved for those in the Police Force but his greatest joy seems to beam from him as he talks about having his brother still be with him and unhurt.

Ty’s priorities are clear. “I saved my brother’s life,” said the big brother.

Ryan, so grateful for his big brother Ty, “ holds his brother’s medal with pride.”

These stories should be flooding our news networks, our commercials, our magazines, our newspapers and all media should honor the true unsung heroes. Often the public won’t hear many wonderful, heartwarming stories of bravery done right in our back yards but if they took the chance in doing so the media would give hope to the community and just may spread the message of “being out of ourselves more” and giving thanks for this gift called “life”. 

See the video of Ty and Ryan, here to the left of this story. If you have problems seeing video on this link, watch it at link below:

For the National Where are they now? column written by Renee Roland, see: http://www.examiner.com/where-are-they-now-1-in-national/renee-roland

For more 2 more local columns by this writer, see: http://www.examiner.com/movie-in-norfolk/renee-roland   

and newest local column: http://www.examiner.com/strange-facts-in-norfolk/renee-roland

TO WATCH VIDEO ON ANOTHER SITE, SEE: http:// http://www.wvec.com/home/6-year-old-boy-receives-Medal-of-Honor-118452409.html

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