Peyton Manning, War Heroes, Police, Firemen, Teachers, and Blood Donors

When you think of a hero, what image comes to your mind. I think of soldiers, fighting for freedom. I see in my minds eye (and on television news) young women and men, in a strange country, fighting so we do not have to wage war on American soil. I think of the exceptional soldiers who go above and beyond the call of duty to protect civilians and their fellow soldiers from death. The soldiers who place themselves between the enemy and their squad, who face death so their comrades can live. There are so many military heroes from so many wars.

I also think of our police officers, the brave men and women who protect us from "the bad guys" everyday. Some would argue that they are not real heroes, but these officers face danger and death every day. They go out to calls, never knowing who they could be coming up against. Never knowing if the car with the broken taillight is holding a desperate person, someone willing to kill for his freedom.

Then, I think of firemen. What bravery it must take to run 'into' a burning building while everyone else is trying to run out! But these courageous souls go into the blazing inferno to make sure everyone is safe. Some might claim that, 'It's their jobs to do that, that is what they are trained to do'. Would you want to do it, even for money?

These are the likely images that come to the minds of most people when the word 'hero' is mentioned. I would also like to include teachers in the category of hero. They strive to help our young to learn, with the hope that we can live in an educated society. A society that sees the futility of war. A society that is civilized. Most teachers, good teachers, go unrecognized as heroes. I would like to thank them here.