To the Editor:

While the world is full of turmoil and hatred and war and racial sadness, my little town of Wareham has been put on the map, so to speak, with crimes, many of which are committed by young people.

Well, one night, here in Wareham, on a cool summer night this past August after leaving work, I stopped at a light when I heard a horrible sound after I put my foot on the break. When the light turned green I started to drive and the car made a worse sound and would not move. I did not know what happened. The car behind me beeped its horn for me to go and I put my emergency blinkers on because of course, I could not go.

I called the police, and the receptionist told me to get out of the car and stand on the side of the road so no one would hit me. A man pulled up beside me and said he thought my axle fell out from under my car because the wheel was bent. I told them the police were on their way.

Another young man in a pickup truck pulled up behind me and asked if he could push me to the side of the road to be out of the way of the traffic. I told him the car would not move. He said he would stay behind me until the police came so no one would hit me.

When the officer came, I put the car in gear and it moved a little. He walked beside my car as I drove it very slowly across the street and out of danger. The young man, who had his wife, child and dog in his pickup stayed behind me until I was safe. He asked me if he could give me a ride home.

I couldn't thank him enough for his help and thoughtfulness. I told him my brother was on his way. This young man, this stranger, said "God bless you" and they went on their way.

The officer said that my car needed to be towed because I could not drive it as the wheel was bent. I did not know what I was going to do as I didn't have any money on me to have my car towed. I thanked the officer and he left. I was a little frightened because there were a lot of people going in and out of the little stores I had parked in front of.

I called my sister-in-law to find out where my brother was and she said he was on his way. I asked her to stay on the phone with me. Two men started walking toward my car and knocked on the window. They noticed that my wheel was bent and let me know that I wasn't going to be able to drive my car at all. One man who introduced himself as Matt, said he was a 30-year mechanic.  He went right to his truck and took his great big jack off of it and jacked up my car, with me in it. His friend, who introduced himself as Sean, said he worked in an auto parts store and the two of them talked amongst themselves about the damage. They were very, very nice, very up front and honest with me.

My brother, who finally arrived and who also knows about cars started talking with them. As they were talking, two young boys pulled up and just happened to know the two men who were helping me. They also just happened to work for a towing company. Can you imagine? As they all were talking about helping me, Matt asked them if they could get a tow truck to tow me home. They said yes. I could not believe my ears. They called another friend and when the tow truck came, all three of the boys were very eager and happy to help me. When I told them where I lived, they told me that they lived just up the street from me and would always see my car. Who would have thought?!! Here were three young boys who had just left their jobs. They looked so tired after a long days work and they did not blink when asked to help me. The three of them got the car up on the flatbed and then, after hugging and blessing them, two of them went home and the third boy and my brother got my car safely home.

I hugged the third one and blessed him also. I told him that all three of their mothers should be proud of them. They were brought up right. I found out two of their names . . . Zach and Randy. They never asked for money . . . not a penny. You don’t see too many boys like that . . . young boys, hard-working boys who took that extra time, after working so hard, to stop and help an elderly person.

I've never cried so much. I will never forget that night. I will never forget all those strangers who stopped and helped me. I will never forget those three young boys. At night, when I kneel by my bedside to pray, I always pray for my family and friends. I will now add those strangers and Matt and Sean, Zach, Randy and their friend to my prayers and thank God that such have been born. Thank you all and God bless you forever. I am very proud to say that because of Matt and Sean, my car was repaired the next day. I believe there is a lot of good in this world. I know for a FACT, there are a lot of good and wonderful young people in Wareham.

Leona Mattos, Wareham.