Heroes among us: Plane crash rescuers honored with carne asada

El Rancherito Meat Market hosted a carne asada Friday night to honor the Good Samaritans who assisted in the rescue efforts following the plane crash on Loop 20 on June 16.

Four of the six people who helped rescue occupants of the plane after the crash - Federico Bouvier, Jonathan Mendez, Matthew Amaro and Damian Garza - attended the event organized by Jan "Güero" Perez, owner of El Rancherito Meat Market, and Edgar Briones, who manages Rayo Grill, marketing and social media for the establishment.

In a spirit of camaraderie, the individuals, accompanied by their families, joined the organizers and community members for a typical Laredo gathering, a carne asada, held in honor of their bravery.

By 7 p.m., Perez and Briones were already grilling meat to welcome those they have dubbed "Los Héroes de Laredo."

"We're preparing 30 pounds of meat, including brisket, sausage, ribs and fajitas, which are a must at any carne asada," Perez said. "I think our heroes are going to be very happy with the meat we're making for them."

Perez and Briones said that as soon as they learned of the plane crash and saw on social media how people, regardless of their own safety, rushed to help, they knew they had to do something.

"My sister, Ana Karen, called me and suggested we give them some seasonings, but we're in the carne asada business, so I called Jan and suggested we host a carne asada to thank them," Briones said. "Jan agreed, and we began organizing the event, using social media to find the Good Samaritans and invite them to this tribute to their courage."

Perea and Briones also created a WhatsApp group called "Los Héroes de Laredo."

Briones said that after the post, community members and others who traveled from Monterrey, Mexico, and San Antonio came together to show their appreciation for the Good Samaritans.

"DJ Rivera provided the music for the event, Ricardo Reyes supplied tables, chairs and tablecloths, and Edgar Solis of Nieto del Barril presented personalized barrel-shaped tumblers for the honorees," Briones said. "Other gifts came from Alberto Cavazos of Monterrey, who brought seasonings and caps for each honoree, and Francisco Perez of San Antonio, who brought tumblers featuring a photo from the plane crash with the heroes and words of encouragement."

Briones said he was pleased with how the gathering turned out.

"You can see how we're all having a great time, enjoying each other's company and sharing experiences," Briones said. "You get goosebumps when you hear their stories, and it's an honor to recognize them in this way. Some might say, 'Oh, it's just a carne asada.' But it's something that's uniquely ours, a tradition deeply rooted in Laredo and something we do with our hearts."

Perez said it was heartwarming to see everyone together because he grew up in a family where carne asadas were a way to bring people together.

"What these people did during the plane crash cannot be thanked enough," Perez said. "I thank them for taking the time to come, be with us and accept this recognition. I'm grateful to God and to them. They will always have a friend in me, and El Rancherito will always be here to support them."

Rescuers share their experiences

Federico Bouvier attended the gathering with his parents and sister.

Bouvier, a crew supervisor with AEP, said he was leaving his daughter's house and responding to a call north of Laredo near the Colombia Bridge when the plane crashed.

"I didn't see the plane as it approached. I saw something white rise up, and then there was a lot of dust. My first thought was that a semi-trailer had crashed," Bouvier said. "When I realized it was a plane, I pulled over and radioed my colleagues. The first LPD officer to arrive was Officer Emerson Barbosa. He asked me if they were alive, and then we heard a banging sound from inside. Someone was hitting the cockpit window."

He said Barbosa told him to get tools to break the window and a fire extinguisher to begin putting out the fire on the plane's wings.

"While we were using the fire extinguisher, other people and officers managed to open the door, and the young men came out," Bouvier said. "One of the pilots came out saying, 'It's going to explode, it's going to explode.' We all stopped for a moment, but then we continued helping the remaining occupants out of the plane."

Bouvier said that while helping with the rescue, he remembered something he learned in Fire Department training: "Don't be another victim," and acted to the best of his ability to help.

Bouvier thanked those who stopped to help and everyone who has recognized the rescuers for their actions.

"I'm very grateful to the people who stopped to help because it gives us hope that we're on the right track as human beings," Bouvier said. "I've seen it at many events, like when people raise money for someone going through a difficult time. This is another example that there are many good people in Laredo."

Bouvier said he and the other rescuers have accepted the recognition with gratitude and humility.

Mendez, a landscaper, said he was traveling southbound on Loop 20 on the day of the plane crash when he saw people trying to break one of the plane's windows.

"I had a shovel with me and thought I could use it to break the window," Mendez said. "I think everyone's spirits lifted when the survivors started coming out of the plane."

He said he was grateful to everyone who stopped to help and for the support and recognition the community has shown him since the plane crash.

"I'm never in a bad mood, but all the support and recognition have really lifted my spirits," Mendez said. "I encourage everyone to help whenever they have the opportunity."

Amaro, a Laredo resident who works in Las Norias, said he was traveling northbound on Loop 20 as he headed home to rest before starting his shift.

"Federico and I were the first to arrive, and we heard someone yelling, 'Help me,' until the door opened and the occupants started getting out," Amaro said. "I was so relieved when they got out of the plane, and I'm heartbroken for the person who died."

Amaro said it's important for people to help one another and thanked the community for its support.

"Even if you think no one is watching, someone always is," Amaro said.

Garza, who was traveling southbound on Loop 20 with his wife, Zayra Garza, said she kept telling him there had been a plane crash, but he thought it was a truck crash.

"I could see the pilot banging on a window, so I got out of the car to help," Garza said. "Federico was holding the door while I helped the young people out of the plane."

Garza said he felt relieved once the survivors were safely out of the plane.

Garza expressed his gratitude for the recognition and support he has received from the community and said the city's greatest strength is its people.

"It's the people who live here who make this community strong," Garza said.

Community support continues

DJ Rivera said he was invited to provide music for the event and felt it was a meaningful opportunity to encourage others to do good deeds.

"Every good deed serves a purpose, and it's important to support the community," Rivera said.

Ricardo Reyes, who owns a table, chair and tablecloth rental business, said he heard about the event and decided to provide the items for the carne asada.

"I'm proud to do my part to thank them for their courage," Reyes said. "I know Laredo has a wonderful community, and I hope we continue to help one another."

Francisco Perez, who traveled from San Antonio, said he learned about the plane crash through social media and immediately contacted Briones to offer personalized tumblers for the honorees.

"Giving them the tumblers was a small way to thank them for doing something not everyone would have the courage to do," Francisco Perez said. "The tumblers feature a photo of the Laredo heroes at the scene of the plane crash along with words of encouragement."

He also encouraged the community to stop and help whenever it is safe to do so after witnessing an accident.

"No matter how minor the accident, there may be someone who needs your help, and we can all be a little more like these brave people," Francisco Perez said.

Cavazos, who owns a seasoning business, said he learned about the plane crash through social media and wanted to provide seasonings and caps for the honorees.

"I knew there was going to be a carne asada, and I wanted to meet them," Cavazos said. "Heroes aren't the ones who wear capes or have superpowers. Heroes are ordinary people who do something extraordinary at the right moment."

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