Not All Heroes Wear Capes

Not All Heroes Wear Capes
by Charlie Price

I recently attended Day of Remembrance, a deeply moving event held in honor of the physicians and dentists who rushed to the aid of Oklahomans following one of our state’s darkest moments: the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Many of them recounted what they saw, what they heard and what they felt in the aftermath, speaking like it was just yesterday. Being in that room, surrounded by people forever changed by what they experienced 30 years ago, I had a realization: heroism is not something any of us can truly prepare for.

None of those healthcare professionals woke up on April 19, 1995, with any forewarning of what was to come. And yet, they answered the call without hesitation and found themselves running toward danger, treating unimaginable injuries or using their dental expertise to help identify victims. They were ordinary people, with extraordinary skills, displaying heroic courage.

I suspect most of us put the term “hero” on a pedestal, as if it’s some sort of unattainable feat we all aspire to achieve but is reserved for the most selfless and noble among us. Fictional superheroes have certainly warped our view, painting heroes as those with superhuman abilities or Tony Stark-level gizmos who save the day and walk away unscathed.

In reality, heroism doesn’t come with a handbook or minimum stipulations. Heroes may be brave, but that doesn’t mean they’re fearless; they simply find the strength inside themselves to set aside their fear in the face of danger or uncertainty in favor of doing what needs to be done.

Some among us are everyday heroes: firefighters, teachers and nurses, to name a few. Across the country, it’s part of the job description for so many to show up for their shift, not knowing what the day will bring. These everyday heroes find it within themselves to keep going—at great personal risk of harm or burnout—to make sure the rest of us are safe. We should praise them every chance we get, and we can most certainly learn from them.

At Club 29, we are united by our shared pull toward serving others. Sure, most of us won’t ever find ourselves called into a life-or-death situation, but we are constantly presented with opportunities to help others—to step in to help someone who needs a hand, to be a source of comfort, to do what we feel is right.

Don’t forget that seemingly small acts can be heroic, too, when they make a profound difference in someone else’s life.