My Many Hero's

To Whom May Be Concerned,

In my lifetime I saw many hero's and there are some things I have learned, some things that I am hopeful that you may have learned too. Many have not really thought too much about these hero's, so I am here to talk about them for you also.

I wish to acknowledge all the hero's that maybe never get recognition. In this world we recognize movie stars, star athletes, war hero's, and a few other positions, from time to time, like police officers, fire fighters, doctors, nurses, lawyers and teachers on occasion, and that may also be dependent on what is the climate of the nation.

The first people I looked up to were my father and mother, when I was young. My father died too young from a fall from a building, and that really stung. He served in World War II. This made my mother a young, widow, raising 5 children. Later, she helped care for relatives children and several of her grandchildren. All of us may be someone's hero. Even though we may never know.

A fourth grade nun helped me get through that year after my dad died, as I was just ten and it was a very tough year for mom, me and my siblings, all younger and we were on a very rough ride.

We moved closer to family, although it was still not close, and a move is not always easy for most and especially with that number of children in tow. But who would do it different and realize that it could be so difficult you know.

When I was a young mother, I depended on the kids father, and he had been in the service too. There were lots of men in my family that were in the service and none ever talked about it so, today, I know most were effected by their time in, even my brothers that were in when there was not war time. I am grateful they all are acknowledged yearly and when they die and once a year for ever after. It still feels like a crime.

Then there were sponsors that helped me in my recovery, after I made the discovery that I didn't have to live in active addiction no more. I was helped to take better care of me, you see, I knew I did score. Each and everyone of those people are my hero's and all of those miracles that made it to a new and better life. We are living without strife. And they are my hero's everyday. They very seldom get recognition and I am here to say that I recognize them all on this day!

We all have hero's, my daughter is a nurse and during this pandemic, she is on my list. I have many teacher friends and again, going through these last two years as a teacher is just too much for most without some assist. Business owners that lost their business or couldn't keep their business open due to lack of workers are my hero's. Our struggling neighbors and mine are farmers struggling to make it, the poor fellows.

Who really isn't a hero in this time of pandemic, doing the best they can, living each day as it comes, funerals and sick family, and loss of loved ones. Their are those so effected that they have committed suicide or have gotten into drugs to the point of overdosing, our daughters and our sons. Sometimes they make it and other times they don't. I am naming the people who work with substance abuse and mental health hero's too, as it is a tough job, even in the best of circumstances that many can't handle, they just won't!

Thank you for reading this, my last hero I want to mention is my little brother, who died in this pandemic. He was only 48 years old and he got sick. He thought he would be going back to work on Saturday, and he was in the hospital on Sunday. He was a great dad to his four daughters and grandson. They will miss him the rest of their young lives as others miss their loved one. Please be mindful of who your hero's are and appreciate them today!

Denise