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At charity tournament in his honor, family of Key Bridge collapse victim hopes his body will be found: 'We keep praying'

Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun on

Published in News & Features

Miguel Luna, a 49-year-old welder on the Brawner Builders crew that was filling potholes on the Key Bridge that fateful night, was born in California, El Salvador, and played soccer on a professional team in the country. He emigrated to the United States, and had called Maryland home for over 19 years, according to CASA, a national nonprofit supporting immigrants, of which Luna was a member. He had three children, according to CASA.

Luna’s children, grandchildren, sister and the rest of his community are praying that he is found, Carmen Luna told onlookers at Sunday’s tournament. Through the pain, Luna said she has held on to her faith in God.

“I say to the Lord, it is your will, and not mine. Believe me, it hurts. Because we met in 2009 in this country,” Carmen Luna said in Spanish, on the video. “God brought us together. And the same God who gave him to me took him away to heaven.”

Acenteno said on the video that he decided to host the tournament because he knew Carmen and Miguel, and he knew they were “luchadores” or “fighters.” As hardworking immigrants, he said, they set an example for the entire community.

Miguel kept working on the construction crew, atop bridges and on busy highways, despite its dangers, he said, sacrificing for his family.

 

“I always told Miguel when I saw him, I asked him if he had left that job. He knew how dangerous it was,” Acenteno said.

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(Baltimore Sun reporters Dillon Mullan and Cassidy Jensen, and photographer Ken Lam, contributed to this article.)

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©2024 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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