[jebartle]

Thought this would be an interesting thread for all those great Villagers to tell a story..

[salpal]

That's Easy! My beloved, late Father is/was my hero. He was the kind of person who believed in values and taught us by living in those values. He always listened, carefully considered his words and without you even being aware, he led you to the right conclusion. He was strong yet gentle and one of the most compassionate people I have ever met. I have to stop now, tears are in my eyes, I still miss him everyday.

[redwitch]

I hsve two heroes. One was not my hero when I was younger. As a matter of fact, I pretty much disregarded her as a person because she was so helpless to my mind. Looking back, I now understand just how brave she truly was.

The first hero was my father. I knew that he would always be there to protect me. He taught me that it was okay to be different; to treat everyone with respect; to accept people as they were, not as we would like them to be. He dropped out of high school to fight in WWII. He stayed in the military and ended up getting a Ph.D. in languages while serving. Our home was always open to anyone -- from the greats to the average to the well-below-par. He died much too young (36) after a harrowing battle with cancer (was given 3 months, lived 3 years). Even so, he fought with valor and honor.

My other hero was a woman who was very dependent -- she couldn't drive a car, didn't know how to write a check,, barely spoke English or any language but her native language. Even so, she was the only member of her family to survive a concentration camp (no, she wasn't Jewish but her family was anti-Hitler and Goebbels wanted the family estate). She went from extremely priviileged to liviing below the proverty line not once but twice. She managed to raise two children after her husband died while working jobs that were at best considered menial labor. She taught those children the value of having honor, pride, a need to do the right thing. I really didn't know it, but my mother was a hero in the true sense of the word.

So, thank you for giving me a chance to brag about two of the greatest people I've ever had the privilege of knowing. They truly were heroes in their own right, not just in the eyes of a child/woman who loved them.

[duffysmom]

Thank you for sharing your story Red. It is moving and explains why you are such a special lady. Your mother and father's lives were not easy but they left a loving legacy in you.

[Shirleevee]

Originally Posted by duffysmom

Thank you for sharing your story Red. It is moving and explains why you are such a special lady. Your mother and father's lives were not easy but they left a loving legacy in you.

Wonderful all!

My hero is my husband who has and does suffer much and never complains because he feels so lucky to be in PARADISE!

[jebartle]

Not only has he been a hero to the family in too many ways to mention but twice saved a life....On an evening outing we witnessed a horrible accident but without hesitation, he jumped out of the car, and risking his own life, pulled a man out of his car, gave CPR until the medics arrived and saved the gentlemans life...Another time, a scooter was hit from behind and was airborne, unfortunately that young boy was beyond help but my "ole boy" was right there, giving him moral support while the young man tried to garble (with half his face gone) "I'm going to be late for work".....When my husband was in practice, on MANY occasions he ended up giving his patients money to help them with their family....One patient comes to mind, this elderly man had no family, had just lost his wife, he lived in a clapboard shack in the mountains of NC, and only had a folding chair to sit on, after his return visit, my husband had a recliner waiting for him with a friend to help him deliver it to this little man's "home".....I can't tell you how many times, we have gone out to eat, and he bought someone's meal that looked like they were having their LAST, and they never knew who bought their dinner....He is quite a guy and I'm lucky to have spent 35 wonderful years with this man...

[TrudyM]

My heroes are those who served in the all-Japanese 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the 100th Infantry Battalion during World War II.

Nesei, or second-generation Japanese Americans, forced from their homes and incarcerated in internment camps, accused of disloyalty toward the American government, yet guilty of nothing but their Japanese heritage who signed up to fight as soon as they were allowed to serve.

They lost everything and fought bravely even though their families were still in the camps. They taught their families not to be bitter and not to hate, that it was fear, ignorance and fate that had changed their lives.

As a military unit, their record in North Africa and Europe was extraordinary. After almost two years of fighting, the 100th/442nd emerged from the war the most highly decorated unit in U.S. military history

[colleenj]

Like others, my heroes are my parents. They taught me that helping others gives you more joy than doing something for yourself ever could. That there is no need to brag about it- help given quietly is the best kind as it allows others to keep their pride.
They taught me that love was way more important than money- we didn't have a lot of money growing up but we always knew that they loved and wanted us kids more than anything else in life.
My dad died 5 years ago and there is not a day that I don't miss him. My mom is still with us, healthy and has accomplished more since my dad's death than she thought possible. She was of the generation where the man took care of the house repairs and money (he was an accountant) and she has managed to learn to do both very well since his death- all this in her late 70s.
My only hope is I can live up to filling their very big shoes

[swrinfla]

colleenj:

I hope you can persuade your Mom to join us here. She shouldn't ever have to worry about shoveling snow or whatever again!

SWR

[colleenj]

Originally Posted by swrinfla

colleenj:

I hope you can persuade your Mom to join us here. She shouldn't ever have to worry about shoveling snow or whatever again!

SWR

No- my Mom will never move from NH. I am moving to The Villages permanentlyh in July but she will not move. My brother lives here in NH and he will check in with her until she sells her house. She already has her name in two senior housing complexes here in NH but she has to sell her house first. In this housing market, that is the big "if".

[Poetrosie]

You have all touched my heart. Thank you for sharing your stories. redwitch, your tribute to your parents especially touched me. You write beautifully.