The Town of Heros

To our small community,

I want to say thank you. Thank you for caring for your neighbors. When Billy’s barn burned down this summer everyone was there to lend a helping hand. Because of that the fire was put out quickly, before spreading to the house.

Many of the women made a double meal for their family that night and took the second to Billy and his family. They had enough to last them all month.

A few weeks later all the men got together and helped build a new barn. This saved them a large bill they could not afford. Billy and Gloria have expressed to me many times how thankful they are for this town.

Then there was this time when little Bobby’s dog ran off. They had just moved into our community and didn’t really know anyone here. But that didn’t stop these kind folks from acting. The search parties were set up and at work before Bobby was out of school.

Remember Henry had the bright idea of calling a friend of theirs that lived near their old home. He set up a watch there for the dog, in case he made it home.

Then Henry along with Joe and Carl headed out in that direction and found the dog near exhausted. They gave him some water and brought him home. I’ve never seen a little boy so happy to see his dog.

Of course, we can’t forget when Tom died. That was a big lose for the whole town. He did so much for all of us, we all miss him still. And to think we almost lost Susan too. Not to death, but to evection. They hadn’t really been struggling he made a good living and kept on top of it, but they had no savings. She would be able to make that month’s mortgage but not the next.

Oh, but what a party we had. The whole town came out and we raised enough to pay off her mortgage. She was so grateful, she set up a scholarship fund in her husband’s name to help anyone in town start a new business.

That scholarship has helped many with great ideas and no funds to see their dreams become reality. And those dreams being fulfilled has helped the town out a thousand times over.

Then there’s widow Baker. She always has something to share be it cooked goods or knitted items. Everyone in town has something she has made. In return everyone takes turns keeping her plowed out in the winter. Even the children go over to shovel her walkways, and even take her mail in to her on cold winter days. Of course, she always has a plate of cookies waiting for them.

When it came to our attention that some families were struggling a few of us got together and decided to do a town co-op. Make it so everyone could join and get things they need without paying a lot.

Boy has that ever grown. We now have a year-round yard sale, a farmer’s market, and a country craft store. All run by co-op members, open to the public. And those needy families have their needs met and no one knows how bad they were having it or who they were.

Remember when Betty fell and broke her hip. With those two little girls. There was no way she could care for them! But a group of ladies got together and donated some time so that every hour was covered. They took care of the children, cleaned the house, cooked meals and did errands.

When the Big Sister and Big Brother program came to town. I thought it was a good idea and hoped a few would sign up. I was surprised at how many came to hear about the program. Even more surprised when everyone there signed up.

We now have as many little brothers and sisters walking around town as we do children who live here. And even the children are getting involved with making them all feel welcome. Everyone has been such great mentors for these children that needed to be accepted. I’ve seen a big change in every one of them since coming here.

These are the things that make heroes, and this is why we in this town can’t pick just one or two. Everyone works together to get accomplished what needs to be done. It is that loving and caring spirit that makes our town one of the best. We are all heroes.

When I heard about the proposed name change, I thought they couldn’t have come up with a better one. The Town of Hero, may we never change.

Thank you one and all for making this town a town of Heroes.