| Subject: A New Definition for Hero... |
Author:
Jenners
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 23:25:44 11/08/01 Thu
When I graduated high school, a few of the guys from my class decided to become fire
fighters. Known party people, they bragged a lot about the perks of the job. The drinking
binges on their off days, the flashing of an ID to skip cover charge, getting out of tickets for speeding. And the whole brotherhood thing, good lord, I thought, they're
worse than the frat guys!
I am ashamed to admit before these guys became fire fighters, I never gave the occupation
or the people who did it much thought. Heroes? My heroes were actresses who wore
pretty dresses to the Emmys and the Oscars, Miss America with her gleaming tiara. So,
when I thought about fire fighters, I thought 1) boys who aren't ready to grow up and 2)
God help me if I'm ever in a fire, cuz those morons wont be able to get it together to get
me out.
And then Sept. 11th. Now, I've always been kinda...flaky. Frivolous has been used to
describe me more than I'd like... but wow. What a wake up call. And how sad that that's
what it took for me to wake up and realize that fire fighters put their lives on the line
everyday. Yes, there are some "perks" of the job...but no perk can fully repay you for
what you do. To run toward the disaster that everything that makes you human is telling
you to run away from. To put your own life second to help those in need and your fellow
fire fighters.
No words can thank you for what you did on Sept. 11. Not only for the physical actions,
but for what you did for me and many like me. You woke me up from this deluded sleep
where grandeur amid special effects and stunt men is what is to be revered and made me
realize that it's real people, who are willing to sacrifice everything for someone else, for
what's right, that are too be looked to as heroes.
Sept. 11th brought our nation together. Together in anger and in sadness. Together in
frustration and in fear. BUT also in pride and determination. And without men and
women like you, and those who gave their lives, I don't think we would have found the
pride and determination. You made it impossible for us as a nation not to be strong.
How could we give up when we were taught by example, from you, that we could never
surrender each other and our beliefs as Americans. You led the way for the rest of us,
who stand by you to give you the utmost support, from our hearts to our wallets. The
debt that we owe you can never be repaid...and the fact that you don't expect us to repay,
that it never entered your mind as a reason to do what needed to be done, makes you
heroes. Far better than I could probably ever be, but what I hope that I will achieve. I thank you, for what you did in New York, but also for showing me how to be a better person.
Jen
Los Angeles, CA
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 