Edna community mourns
Submitted by jcht2010 on
By Lisa Shapiro
Staff Writer
The deaths of five Edna children rocked the town of Edna after they died tragically in a mobile home fire on Nov. 25.
A candlelight vigil was held during the evening on Nov. 25 to mourn the loss of family, friends, and classmates. Friends and family members gathered in disbelief, many with tears streaming down their faces, to show support for a family that was ripped to shreds by the fire.
Pastor Andy Schroer said members of the family organized the vigil. Schroer and Edna High School football player Dillon Kallus spoke at the vigil.
Noah Ortiz, a varsity football player for Edna High School, was just one of five who died in the fire. His life was cut short just after the Cowboys upset the Goliad Tigers in the second round of the playoffs and became area champions on Nov. 21. He was just 15 years old at the time of his death.
“If I could describe Noah in one word, it would be dedicated,” said Dillon Littleton, one of Ortiz’s teammates. “He was dedicated to the sport of football, to his school, and to his family.”
Littleton said Noah strived for excellence on the field, which was where he knew him the best.
“I just know he had a huge impact on everyone he ever talked to,” Littleton said. “He sure had an impact on me.”
He recalled two moments that he will never forget about Ortiz.
“What I remember most is him telling me ‘Nice play, Littleton’ after making tackles on Friday nights and the way that he would get up after making a tackle. He would cross his legs, and not use his arms to get himself up. I would always laugh at him when he would do that. He offered to teach me, but I could never do it.”
This has been a hard loss to deal with, he said.
“Losing a teammate is like losing a brother,” he said. “But as a team captain, I know it's my job to stay strong and keep other teammates strong, too. And that is what we will be doing from here on out, keeping each other motivated, and playing our hearts out for Noah.”
The Cowboys will play Ingram Moore at Canyon Stadium in New Braunfels on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. EHS football players will wear stickers with Ortiz’s number 50 on their helmets during the playoff game in memory of him, Edna Independent School District Superintendent Robert O’Connor said. Davis Jewelry in Edna is selling T-shirts with Ortiz’s number on them and donating the proceeds to the family.
The other four children who died in the fire were Edna Junior High students Nicholas Ortiz, 13, and Julian Ortiz, 11 and Edna Elementary students Areyanah Hernandez, 5, and Lilyana Hernandez, 6.
O’Connor said all of the children were very popular and got along with everyone. He said Areyanah and Lilyana were just like your typical five or six-year-olds.
The mother, Annabel Ortiz, and father, Johnny Hernandez Jr., along with their 4-year-old son, Johnny Hernandez III, survived the fire.
Edna Elementary Principal Katie Kucera remembers Areyanah and Lilyana during there days at the school.
“The girls were silly, sweet, and full of life,” Kucera said. “They were very protective of their little brother Johnny and they were always looking out for him.”
She said the loss has affected staff members.
“This is a painful loss for all the staff at Edna Elementary,” Kucera said. “As soon as they step foot on campus- they are all our kids.”
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