Everyday Heroes

As kids, our heroes were Captain America, Superman, Spiderman, Wonder Women or any Marvel superhero. We would look up to them everyday and say, I want to be just like them. On Halloween you would see kids walking around saying they were the hero from the cape they were wearing and they could fly. As we get older, we learn those heroes just exist in movies and so our sense of a hero changes. You hear stories all over the news about people stepping out and helping strangers they have never met a day in their life. They may go out in disasters just to make sure people are safe and alive. People like that can be ordinary people that were just going about their day and some people its their job. First responders sign up to be heroes everyday. They will tell you they aren’t a hero and it is just something they like to do and their job is just to help their community. Yet, people who have ever been saved or helped by a first responder, they will tell you that they are grateful to have a hero like them. All in all, a hero is someone who will see something wrong and instantly call to action without hesitation to help someone they may have never even met.

First Responders are every where you go. You may see them as firefighters, paramedics, EMT’s or the police. They either volunteer their time or do it as a job. As soon as central dispatch comes across the radio and that pager sounds the alarm, they are off in minutes. It may be as big as a structure fire with a person trapped inside to a lift assist. No matter what it is, they will always be there. For example, on September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center crumbled to the ground after a horrific terrorist attack. New York was sent into a panic and immediately, first responders were there in a matter of seconds. With so many people around them, panicked, injured or dead, they started helping the second of arrival.

Searching through the rubble, putting out the flames, helping the hurt, answering as many questions is what they would be doing for the next couple months. Justin Smith, a former NYPD officer was there on the morning of 9/11, he was an instructor of the law at the police academy. His wife, Moira, was a patrol officer assigned to the Thirteenth Precinct on 21st street, which was just around from the academy where Justin was. Moira instantly responded to the World Trade Center and helped one person out of the south tower to safety and had returned to help others in the evacuation, when the building fell to the ground in a matter of seconds. Justin commented about the tragic death of his beloved wife, he quoted, “The way she charged into those buildings time and again to get people out-that wasn’t a tragedy. That was heroism, the definition of what it is to be a hero. I focused on that.” (The Daily Beast) Moira was not concerned about herself but was more concerned about the lives of the people in her community. She gave the ultimate price for people she probably never had met before.

Have you ever been to an event where someone may have a health problem and need immediate attention? You may have noticed people will call 911 to report an emergency almost like an automatic reflex. Paramedics will be there and could save someone’s life and help them on the feet again. In Roanoke, VA, Bethany Cook and her father, Ed Deitch were running in the first Blue Ridge Half Marathon when Ed suddenly collapsed just before crossing the finish line, he went into cardiac arrest. That day, Roanoke City Battalion Chief David Bishop was in charge of organizing medical responders.

Chief Bishop set up to ambulances at the finish line just in case of any emergency, which makes Ed extremely lucky. The EMT’s who were assigned to that finish lines all came together, all from different organizations but all put effort in to help save Ed’s life. With them putting their knowledge together, they saved Ed’s life and received the Red Cross Hero Award. Ed just wanted to race with his daughter and it almost cost him his life. The EMT’s at the scene went ready to help someone because it is what they love doing. “To see that gentleman later on be able to walk and talk and be with his family that’s the best reward I could ever ask,” said Woodzell. (Ward, Lindsey) That is what they look forward to on their job. Despise the situation, especially when it is very sudden, they hold on to the memories and rewards they encounter while on the job.

When an emergency comes across in front of anyone’s eyes, some won’t know how to act or some will immediately take action. Well in this case, these two Manchester firefighters knew exactly what they had to do one summer at the Merrimack River. A dad and his two stepdaughters were jet skiing when they fell off but were hanging on for their life to a 300 ft barrier cable, while being sucked towards the Amoskeag Falls. These two firefighters tookthe daring attempt and rescued the family to safety. While being interviewed, Smith quoted,  “”We were able to accomplish it because all the pieces were in place, if they were not, it’s not a feat that two people can do.” (First Responder Honored) In some cases you get lucky, but you never know until you make that sudden decision that may put your life at risk, but to them, it isn’t their life they are worried about. It’s the citizens.

Being a hero and first responder isn’t just being an EMT or firefighter. Police officers are always responding to emergencies to provide safety for citizens in their community. In the shooting rampage at Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Lt. Brian Murphy, was helping an injured victim while he was shot nine times by the gunman. When fellow officers arrived, they said he waived them off and encouraged them to help others first. “He told us he does not consider himself a hero, that he was doing his job and he feels any of his fellow officers would have acted the same way,” says Jim Palmer, executive director of the Wisconsin is Professional Police Association. (Dorrell, Oren) Lt. Brian Murphy showed us that he doesn’t want to be known as a hero, but just wanted to do what was right, but what he did was truly a huge heroic act.

Heroes really aren’t just displayed on TV screens or toy figurines. They are real life people. They may not call themselves heroes, but what they do everyday are heroic acts to society. People trust them with their lives everyday. They are always on call 24/7 and are always prepared to step up to the plate and see what is thrown at them. It is what they love doing. With all things considered, people should look up to them and be encouraged to always do the right thing when they know something is wrong, even if they aren’t a first responder. Everyone can be a hero, it just has to be in their heart to know when to step up.

Works Cited

“9/11 First Responders.” The Daily Beast. 04 Sept. 2011. Newsweek/Daily Beast. 14 Jan. 2013 . Dorrell, Oren. “USA TODAY.” USATODAY.COM. 8 Aug. 2012. 14 Jan. 2013 . “First-Responders, Citizens Honored.” Wmur. 10 May
2012. 14 Jan. 2013 . Ward, Lindsey. “First responders honored with Red Cross Hero Award.” WSLS 10. 23 Mar. 2012. 14 Jan. 2013 .