Man drowns while saving son with Down Syndrome

Heartbreaking:

A retired Navy pilot and Vietnam veteran who was still “in great shape,” VanderWoude coached basketball and soccer at Seton School in Manassas…

President of Christendom College Dr. Timothy O’Donnell attributed the bravery of VanderWoude, a Catholic who attended Mass daily, in part to his intense faith. In an interview with LifeSiteNews O’Donnell recalled the gospel reading of the day following the incident to explain how VanderWoude’s extraordinary sacrifice was entirely of a piece with his vibrant faith. The gospel recounted the names of the twelve Apostles whom, O’Donnell says, the world remembers today precisely “because they gave their life for Jesus Christ.”

“And that is exactly what Tom Vanderwoude did.  It was a heroic death,” said O’Donnell.  He also notes that VanderWoude died on the feast of the birthday of Mary, to whom VanderWoude always had “an intense devotion.”

(…)

To donate to Thomas VanderWoude’s memorial fund to help wife Mrs. Mary Ellen VanderWoude and son Joseph, send checks made out to the “VanderWoude Trust Fund” to:

Holy Trinity Parish
8213 Linton Hall Road
Gainesville, VA 20155

Reminds me of this amazing story: