Remembering The Unsung Hero Who Impacts Our Life and Influences Our Future

(Editor's note about the author: T.O. Illustratio is a free lance writer and observer of the interaction of personalities in everyday life. The author seeks to inspire readers to look within themselves to see how much good they can do in this world when a definitive purpose in life is clear.)

We all carry the images with us. The mild-mannered citizen who suddenly transforms into a super hero when danger to an innocent living human is imminent. We've also seen the indomitable presence of the forceful personality, always ready to step into the breach to stand against the forces of evil who seek to harm unsuspecting people. But what of the unsung hero?

Superman and the Justice League are fictional creations who provide entertainment value and probably some wishful dreaming of such noble powers always at their disposal.

The real life heroes with the obvious confidence and commitment to safeguarding the innocent are inspirational. But not all are called to this level of heroism. Not all have the physical strength, the mental ferocity, the personal confidence to assume the role of protector of the oppressed at any moment. Our world is indeed blessed by the presence of these genuine heroes who put themselves on the front line of defense.

This humble scribe would submit that we are equally fortunate for the contributions of the unsung heroes, found in our daily lives, quietly, yet so efficiently doing their parts to help and heal. It is important that their contributions are remembered. 

Why It's Important To Remember

I'll leave the details to your own dissection, but will offer some examples to illustrate the lasting impact of these unsung heroes.

How many lives have been saved by the Kevlar vest? We live in a world where evil forces must be deterred. Do you know who invented Kevlar? Her efforts are certainly heroic.

A simple syringe. We take it for granted and millions of them are used everyday to heal illness or to control afflictions. Can you imagine a world where the simple syringe was to unwieldly as to not allow a person to use with only one hand. That time did exist, until someone came up with a prototype that would lead to the modern syringe.

How about the invention of the feeding tube that allowed people with disabilities to gain the autonomy to feed themselves? You might not know the name of the inventor, but her effort was heroic to so many.

Can you imagine driving along the highway during a snowstorm, having to clear the windshield by stretching out and wiping the glass with your hand? You can thank the person who came up with the idea for mechanized wiper blades. Her idea fixed a big problem in the infancy of motorized transportation.

We could list many more, including the everyday folks who go out in their neighborhoods after weather disasters to clear the debris, to lend a hand, to offer support. We could include the anonymous citizens who see hungry people and feed them, who see distress and move toward the problem to help rather than turning away.

My Father The Unsung Hero

My father was an unsung hero, although outside his circle of acquaintances, notably underappreciated. His story is not unlike so many others who could be accurately eulogized as being one who exemplified "a life well-lived."

While there were no tall buildings leapt in a single bound, no instances of being faster than a speeding bullet, my father went about the daily exercise of heroism that describes so many good parents. This unsung hero was a daily example of accepting the responsibilities of adulthood and of being a parent.

He did willingly put himself between danger and his family. He did willingly put himself behind his family in each daily experience in providing for them. He always placed them ahead of himself.

There was another personality quirk that made this unsung hero a shining example that would be passed down to his children. He showed them how to have fun, how to enjoy life. Example is always the best teacher, so wringing the most that is possible out of every day which was seen as another gift from God, became an objective. We saw it in our own unsung hero so we assumed that was the correct path.

We learned to stand up for those who cannot do so for themselves, because we saw our father do the same. We saw him give generously of his time, talent, and treasure to those in need, so we assumed that was the correct path.

Without doubt, many reading this column could recite similar stories from their own childhood. Hopefully they will tell those stories too. The pity is that too often, these unsung heroes are not fully recognized for their yeoman efforts until they are no longer alive.

Residual Benefits 

It's easy to take for granted the generous lifestyle we are provided in our adolescence. The saying is that "youth is wasted on the young." Another pity is that fact isn't recognized either until youth has vanished.

The unsung heroes provide us a model to guide our lives and to be the shining examples to our youth. There will be no blockbuster movies produced about their lives. No statues, no medals, no proclamations.

What there will be is a new generation of unsung heroes who will defend the innocent, share their gifts and teach the youth. Our nation will be improved by the unsung hero in everyday life.

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