Hero. The word conjures up many visions, ideas, examples, and words. I have many heroes, the foremost being my forbears - my Great Grandpa, both Poppy & Grandpa, and my Father. All military men who served their countries with distinction. I also count my Uncle Harry as a hero, he also served, but was a wonderful influence on life and family, as evidenced by his progeny. The heroes that I revere after those men, are the ones who have faded into history, yet helped shape the world that we live in today.
As a child and a younger man, I loved history. I would read encyclopedia volumes, historical books, books about war, and about the battles that shape world history that brave Americans participated in, or won. I read of vile regimes that were destroyed because of the courage and fortitude of men who had names like Patton, Bradley, MacArthur, Halsey, Doolittle, and Eisenhower among many others. I saw pictures of huge guns being fired, mortars launched, fighter planes shooting down enemy aircraft. I also saw pictures of refugees, destroyed cities, concentration camps, and piles of dead bodies along with wounded men. But the stories of heroism and bravery of men who defied odds to capture, defeat and destroy the enemies of mankind always resonated - my Dad was one of those people who could be called to defeat those forces at any time, and was always patrolling around the world to see to its safety.
As a young adult two events happened that began to shape my view of the historical weight and moral gravity of those we call heroes. One was being among over 500 people watching a man that we all loved and respect get called away to military service right in the middle of teaching at BRLS. What an emotional moment, knowing that someone you spoke with only moment before could be called away at a moments notice. Thank you, Mr. Kaye. Thank you for also approving of my song choices for my “Patriotism” vespers. Secondly, was the moment on 9/11 when my Dad said “ I have to go to work, son”, as I lay in a hospital bed after watching the devastating events unfold. His unit was on lockdown 24hrs later, and then a few months later he was headed to Iraq.Then I knew, as an adult, the call of men who will bravely go and do what I cannot.
I cannot fathom the fear of men younger than I, on June 6, 1944, who were flown thousands of miles from home, then were piled into APV’s, transported across a few miles of water, to charge through 500 yards of the toughest terrain ever imagined. Through obstacles, sand, bodies of dead and wounded comrades, bullets, bombs, and blood they stormed the beaches of Normandy intent on ending the menace that plagued mankind. I cannot imagine the mixture of fear, adrenaline, anger, and despair that those young men must have experienced as they rushed those machine gun nests. But they did it. Then they did it across Europe, and ended the scourge that threatened our world. Greatest Generation, Indeed. Rest well, Heroes. And thank you for the world that I live in now.
