BLUFFTON (WTOL) - It was the moment that summed up Tim Berta's triumphant recovery from a bus crash that almost claimed his life two years ago.
"It's the one day I have been waiting for since 2003, the one day I have been waiting for since I graduated high school. I have been waiting for this day," Berta told News 11.
On Sunday, May 3, Tim realized his dream -- a dream he had been put on hold for almost two years. Now, he'll attend Lourdes nursing college.
During the graduation ceremony, Tim soaked up every moment, and at times was overwhelmed with emotion, "Wow. I just want to cry -- happy tears," he said.
As he walked across the stage, he received a standing ovation from the community that has supported him through it all. "All my friends from Bluffton here have been outstanding. They haven't abandoned me or thought, 'Well he doesn't know anything. He can't do anything."
The Circle of Remembrance is dedicated to the players who lost their lives in the bus crash in 2007. From there, you can look across the baseball field., hear people cheering, hear people clapping for their loved ones who are graduating today.
There are two names that didn't walk across the stage with Tim. Two of his teammates had their lives cut short by that bus crash in 2007. Lost but not forgotten, two red roses placed were in the graduation bouquet for Tyler Williams and David Betts would have graduated with Tim.
