University of Hartford raises Saudi flag in honor of students who died during child rescue

The University of Hartford in Connecticut raised the Saudi flag on their campus for a week in honor of the two Saudi students who drowned in the Chicopee River of Massachusetts while trying to rescue two children who were being swept away in the river.

Awad Alrakah, a relative to the two students, said Theeb Alyami, 27, who studied at Hartford and Jaser Daham Alrakah, 25, a previous student of the university were studying civil engineering during the past five years and were about to graduate in a couple of weeks. Their family has not seen them during the past three years and have been waiting for their graduation and their eventual return to Saudi Arabia.

In an Instagram post on the University of Hartford’s official page, the uploaded a picture of the flag with the caption: “In honor of the lives of our student, Theeb Alyami, and his friend/cousin, Western New England University (and previous University of Hartford) student Jaser Alrakah, the University is flying the Saudi Arabian Flag this week. Please think about Theeb and Jaser for a moment and hold the memory of their selfless bravery in your heart. We are lucky and proud to have experienced both of them as students at our institution.”

Their families are reportedly having a difficult time but they have said they are taking solace that their children died as martyrs and heroes as they drowned while trying to rescue children.