“What’s a Hero” — Lois’ 2001 essay after 9-11
Recorded 15 Sept 2001.
What is a hero?
Heroes are people who help when they don’t have to;
help whether or not they benefit from it;
help even if they risk themselves in the helping;
help without being told to.
9-11 made us aware of many heroes.
Some on the ground helped others out of a crumbling building.
Some in the air knew they were going to die and acted so that no one below would die with them. Some treated wounds of the body; some helped with wounds of the spirit.
Some died that day.
Some still live.
Whether or not we ever meet them, we know they all are heroes.
Let us, we the people, claim the eleventh day of EVERY MONTH as our “Hero’s Day”. Let us honor those who have been heroes in days past, and those who will be heroes in days to come.
Honor them
— but not necessarily with parades or days off work;
— not with large events or pre-programmed agendas;
— not by government edict.
Instead, let us honor them and celebrate “Hero’s Day” as we go about our ordinary lives.
Let us tell each other stories of the braveries we have witnessed;
let us acknowledge the heroes, large or small, that always exist in our midst;
let us recognize in ourselves our own ability to be heroic;
and let us each strive to help, whenever we can.
We, the people, resolve to honor our heroes EVERY MONTH and to live better our own lives, EVERY DAY.
For our heroes are ordinary people.
Common. Ordinary. People.
Common!
As common as the stars in the sky.
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This essay was written by Lois Richter on 15 Sept 2001.
Please READ ALOUD and share as you will.
Lois Richter, 1315 Torrey Street St, Davis CA 95618
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