Jason and I enjoyed watching the first season of NBC’s Heroes. It’s a drama about everyday people, young and old, living with superpowers. One flies, another can manipulate the time/space continuum, and yet another can paint the future. It was a fun journey seeing them work together to try to “save the world.”
As Jason and I enjoy the escape into the fictional stories of heroes on the show, it’s easy to forget that we have our own “heroes” living among us, daring to use their superpowers to save our world. When I think of our heroes today I immediately think of our military. Some other heroes that come to mind are our police officers, fire fighters, teachers, parents (especially single parents and military parents). Today, or course, I’m thinking specifically about our heroes fighting to “save our world” in the military. Their superpowers are many- courage, tenacity, wisdom, selflessness, bravery, patience. The list goes on and on.
The other night we were at a dueling piano bar with some friends. The place was filled, people were singing and laughing with their friends having a great time. One of the piano men got a request to invite a certain individual to the stage. It was a young man who had just gotten back from Iraq a few days earlier. This young twenty something had a distinct military haircut and muscular frame, with tattoos peaking out of his short sleeved shirt. The piano man announced that he just got back and started to play “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood. The whole place got on their feet and sang their hearts out. On the stage the other piano man had grabbed a flag and was holding it on one side while the soldier held it high and proud on the other side. When the song was over everyone clapped, whistled, and cheered for a very long time. Then the soldier and the piano man folded the flag very solemnly. You could hear a pin drop.
It was a very powerful experience. I saw people wiping away tears, others going up to the young man proudly shaking his hand, and others smiling with pride.
The piano man said it perfectly,
“I don’t care who you voted for, we are so proud and grateful for our military fighting for our freedom.”
This young modest Marine was being treated like a true hero.
As it should be.
[tags]Memorial Day, military, freedom, God Bless the USA, Lee Greenwood, heroes, NBC, superpowers, police officers, fire fighters, teachers, parents[/tags]