Credit: Amanda Kuehnle/LevittownNow.com
After a game of manhunt Friday night with his friends, twelve-year-old Ilijah Rodriguez raced home. On his way to his corner apartment in A building of Racquet Club, he caught a glimpse of a blaze rupturing through B building, just steps away. At which time he gathered his friends together and raced towards the burning building – where they knocked on doors alerting residents to get out. Rodriguez’ bravery and swift actions Friday night saved countless lives, and now local community members want to give him the credit he deserves.
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Kenny Bowman, President of the Fire & Iron Station 139 Motorcycle Club and Volunteer at William Penn Fire Company, Chris Hathaway, Road Captain of Red Knights PA 6 Motorcycle Club and member of the Third District Volunteer Fire Company and George Redner, President of Knights of the Inferno Bucks County Motorcycle Club and member of the Tullytown Fire Company, and organizers Jacqueline Redner and Joe Hanak have made it their mission to honor Rodriguez, in a huge way.
Credit: Amanda Kuehnle/LevittownNow.com
On Wednesday at 7 p.m., members of all three motorcycle clubs and fire companies, in addition to Philadelphia based antique car club, Iron Rebels, will meet at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, located at 920 Trenton Road. Kickstands go up and engines will start at approximately 7:30 p.m., where they will all ride to the home of Ilijiah Rodriguez and his family at apartment A35 in Racquet Club.
Rodriguez, as well as the seven other children involved (Alessia Conigliaro, Zack Pietrowski, Tyler Pietrowski, Bryce Tate, William Foxworth, Roman Tkach and Pepe Vaida) will be handed certificates in honor of their heroic service. Rodriguez specifically, will be presented with a gift and an award, and made an honorary member of all three motorcycle clubs.
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“Wow, this is just so amazing,” said Iris Rodriguez, the young heroes mother, as she held back tears. “I just can’t believe all of this.”
“Ya know sometimes motorcycle clubs get a bad rap, but these guys are just firefighters who like to ride motorcycles, and everything they try and do is for charity,” said Redner as she looks over at all the men involved.
Credit: Amanda Kuehnle/LevittownNow.com
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“If this just encourages one more kid to do what Rodriguez and those other kids did…” said Bowman. “Usually adults see something and they run the other way, and this kid ran right towards it.”
The various organizers have made it not only their mission to honor Rodriguez, but to help those directly affected by the fire.
Organizers spent their Sunday afternoon at Fraternal Order of Eagles, collecting various donations made by members throughout the community. They were able to fill up a large room in just a matter of hours. “The amount of support has been so amazing,” Redner said. The room, piled high with trash bags full of clothing, tables full of food, and the floor full with furniture will be dropped off to Frank Farry’s effort at Walter Miller Elementary School tomorrow.
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“We’re not done collecting, we are open here till 10 p.m., as long as people want to keep dropping things off, we will keep helping,” said Redner.
