Levittown Heroes Receive Standing Ovation

The Middletown Township community and beyond rejoiced together last night in a warm embrace of appreciation. A public meeting hall usually empty and bland came to life as business owners, firefighters, politicians and community members alike filed in filling up each one of its plastic seats.

The local community gathered to recognize a group of young boys for their extreme bravery and heroism. The boys, all residents of the Racquet Club Apartment Complex at 1970 Veterans Highway in Levittown, broke the mold and raced towards the burning B building on July 26, alerting residents to notify their families and vacate their apartments.

Read LevittownNow.com’s full coverage of the Racquet Club fire

Ilijah Rodriguez, Alessio Conigliaro, Zack Pietrowski, Tyler Pietrowski, Bryce Tate, William Foxworth, Roman Tkach and Pepe Vaida, a group of young friends, had just ended a friendly game of manhunt when the fire broke out. Rather than return to their homes, they raced towards the fire, banging on doors and evacuating the building before emergency personnel arrived.

As humble as the young boys may be, their extreme bravery and heroism did not go unnoticed by the local community. Hours after the story was first published on LevittownNow.com, members across the community reached out in an attempt to honor the boys who helped save countless lives.Read the original LevittownNow.com story, Young Boy Sprang Into Action, Saves Residents in Racquet Club Blaze

Jacqui Redner, a Pennsbury School Board Member and her crew of loyal firefighters and motorcycle enthusiasts were the first to honor the boys in a huge, multi-faceted way. Just days after the tragic event that left more than 100 people homeless, members of the William Penn Fire Company, Third District Volunteer Fire Company, Tullytown Fire Company, Fire and Iron Station 139, PA Red Knights 6, and Knights of Inferno held a ride which originated at the Fraternal Order of Eagles at 920 Trenton Road and ended at the scene of the tragic four alarm fire. For more than an hour they presented the young heroes with gifts, badges, t shirts, and certificates.

“I feel like a hero,” said young Rodriguez after the July 31 event. “My friends helped me that night so they should feel like heroes too.”

Read the original LevittownNow.com story, Young Racquet Club Residents Honored for Extreme Heroism

Days later in another attempt to honor the young heroes, Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick along with State Representative Frank Farry organized a special public ceremony to reward them for their bravery. The event which occurred last night, filled the Middletown Township public meeting hall.

“What could have been a far more tragic evening, turned out to not be so tragic because of a few boys who ran to alert their neighbors,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Pat Mallon. “When I think about what they did, simple words of thanks is just not enough.””When we see the community come together, its those things we should think about when we see the negative news and start to doubt humanity,” Mallon added. “In Middletown Township we care about each other and that’s why we choose to live here.”

Mallon and Farry both stood side by side as they expressed their gratitude for all who became involved in the fire- from fire fighters and emergency personnel, to volunteers who worked tiresome hours collecting donations for the victims, to a group of young boys who could have easily went home that Friday night.

They presented each of the five boys (William Foxworth, Roman Tkach and Pepe Vaida were not present at the ceremony) a certificate of heroism as well as a flag (given to them by Congressman Fitzpatrick) which had been flown above the Capitol building. As the boys walked across the room, they were met with clapping hands and a standing ovation by the entire audience.

Mallon then announced that August 14, 2014 has been declared as Racquet Club Fire Heroes Day by the Bucks County Board of Commissions.

Farry, who was an instrumental aspect of the recovery effort for the victim stated he was surprised and appreciative of the effect social media had on the tragedy. Just days after, in conjunction with over 100 volunteers, Walter Miller Elementary School and the Fraternal Order of Eagles became stocked with resources and donated items for the victims.Read the original LevittownNow.com story, MUST SEE: Donations Pour in for Fire Victims

“I can’t say I have ever been more proud to be a part of this community,” said Farry with a gleaming smile.

As the recognition ended, just moments before the agenda for the Board of Supervisors meeting truly began, nearly all of the audience members filed out of the public meeting hall and rejoiced with the young heroes.

As their loved ones waited, the young boys went down in a line, hugging and shaking the hands of the firefighters and motorcycle club members who helped recognize them just a few weeks ago, members who had escorted them all personally to that very ceremony. It was then that two unlikely worlds combined and the community was truly made whole.

“You boys have so much to be proud of,” said Kenny ‘Maverick’ Bowman, Member of the William Penn Fire Company and Fire and Iron Station 139 Motorcycle Club. “So, so much.”