A Father’s Day Lesson About Children, and Life

June 17 (Bloomberg) -- The morning of Sept. 8, 2008,was like most mornings for Thomas S. Vander Woude, a formerairline pilot who, in retirement, kept a farm in Nokesville,Virginia. He went to Mass, and then turned to the relentlessdemands of his 26 acres. By his side was his youngest son,Joseph, known as Josie, who was 20 at the time, and who had Downsyndrome. Josie’s six older brothers had long ago moved out ofthe house, but Josie was his father’s inseparable companion.

While Thomas was working, Josie was off in a different partof the yard when a broken septic-tank cover gave way under hisfeet, and he slid in. Vander Woude, from a distance, saw his sonfall. He understood right away that Josie was in mortal danger.The tank was 8 feet deep, and filled almost to the top withwaste.