Texas Teen Fills In For Cheerleader’s Missing Military Father

After a young cheerleader began crying during a father-daughter moment for her cheer team, a Texas senior rushed the field to come to her aide.

A San Antonio teen is being called a hero for stepping up to the plate to be there for a young girl whose father wasn't able to at that moment. Back in the beginning of October, nine-year old Addie Rodriguez was performing at a football game at Central High School with her cheerleading squad. During that performance, there was a part where the cheerleader's fathers joined them on the field and lifted the girls on their shoulders. But Addie's father wasn't there to lift her up. Physically or emotionally.

Addie's father, Abel Rodriguez, is a senior airman and is training at Travis Air Force Base in California. Addie's mother, Alexis Perry-Rodriguez, missed the memo that it was parent day because she was preparing for her husband who left that same week. Alexis said that seeing her daughter standing there was "heartbreaking."

It was then that 17 year-old senior Matthew Garcia jumped two fences and rushed on the field to the young girl's aide. Garcia told San Antonio's News 4,

“I ran down from the bleachers right here and I just hopped the fence, and I went over, and I kneeled down, I talked to her and I said, ‘Are you OK?’”

Matthew then lifted Addie on his shoulders and stepped in for her father. Addie told News 4,

“I just felt like somebody saved my life. I thought that's so nice, especially since my dad's serving for us.”

At least for Addie's father even when he's 1,700 miles away, he knows there are people out there to watch out for his little girl.