ON DECEMBER 7, 1988, AN EARTHQUAKE DEVASTATED THE NORTHWESTERN SECTION OF ARMENIA, KILLING AN ESTIMATED 25,000 PEOPLE. In one small town, just after the earthquake, a father rushed to his son's school only to find that the school had been flattened. There was no sign of life. But he had no thought of turning back. He had often told his son, 'No matter what, I'll always be there for you when you need me!' Though his prospects appeared hopeless, the father began feverishly removing rubble from where he believed his son's classroom had been. Other forlorn parents only wailed hopelessly?'My son!' or 'My daughter!' Some told the father to go home, that there was no chance that any of the children could be alive. Yet, he replied: 'I made my son a promise that I'd be there for him anytime he needed me. I must continue to dig.' Courageously, he worked alone; no one volunteered to help him. He simply had to know for himself: 'Is my boy alive or is he dead?' Finding strength and endurance beyond himself, the faithful, loving father continued to dig...for 8 hours...12...24...36 hours. Then in the 38th hour, as he heaved away a heavy piece of rubble, he heard voices. 'Armand!' he screamed. A child's voice responded: 'Dad! It's me...Armand!' Then, 'I told the other kids not to worry. I told them that if you were alive, you'd save me, and when you saved me, they'd be saved. You promised you would always be there for me! You did it, Dad!' Moments later, t