On Monday, January 31st Walt Disney World celebrated the unbelievably successful rescue of 33 miners from Chile part of a week-long Disney vacation provided to the men, their rescuers and families. Trapped as a result of a mine cave-in, these amazing people worked together to develop a society that enabled them to survive and to keep each other’s spirits up in these extremely difficult conditions. It was 18 days until voice contact was made with the men. And after 69 days living 2,300 ft underground all 33 were successfully rescued. Throughout the ordeal many news reports discussed the importance of keeping the men’s spirits up and the various ways they were working to keep them optimistic as the days passed.
As the Dapper Dans sang “When You Wish Upon A Star” to these men and their gathered family and friends the value of hope really hit home. Hope enabled them to overcome the overwhelming odds and resulted in a life-changing experience that for a brief time united the world. It is believed that over a billion people watched their rescue. Earlier in the day we’d seen some of the group boarding “it’s a small world” while we were in queue. The happiest voyage along the seven seas had new meaning when you consider peoples from all these nations were watching and hoping for the miners safe deliverance.
As Grand Marshalls they travelled along Main Street in a collection of Main Street vehicles — the parade Grand Marshall car, the Omnibus and others — their joy and gratitude was tangible. Guests along Main Street returned the love with cheers and vigorous waves. Last year we had all gathered around TV, radio and internet to follow their struggles and held our breath at times throughout their rescue and now we were simply celebrating and basking in their happy reunions with family and friends. One of the miners was leaning over the vehicle’s edge, arms outstretched loudly declaring over and over again “Muchos Gracias.” It was as if he was embracing each and every one of us in appreciation of the hopes and prayers offered on the miners’ behalf over the months.
In the Omnibus some of the men were waving, others were taking pictures of the gathered crowd, and a few displayed the Chilean flag that featured the miners’ signatures. But it was the gentleman who sat quietly on the lower deck, simply holding his pocket book of Scriptures, gently kissing it and using it to gesture towards the sky that initiated streams of tears along my cheeks.
Hope
— pictures and story by Rebekah Moseley