Here's to the Heroes

My husband amazes me. Every single time he sees someone in uniform, he goes out of his way to shake their hand and thank them for their service. Doesn’t matter where we are—grocery store, gas station, fairgrounds. It’s instinct for him, like breathing.

We were at the Lancaster Fair on Monday, and sure enough, we came to a full stop at the Army exhibit. Took us a while to move on. I said to him, “If you were younger, you’d probably be over there right now.”

He didn’t hesitate. “I definitely would.” And I didn’t hesitate either. “Well, I’m glad you’re not younger.”

But he’s right. The men and women who wear that uniform? They’re not superheroes from the movies. They’re ordinary folks, moms and dads, neighbors and friends. The same kind of people who ran into burning buildings on 9/11 instead of away from them. The same kind of people who stood up to terror on Flight 93 and said, “Not on our watch.” The same kind of people who sign up to serve in our military and put their lives on the line, day in and day out, to keep the rest of us safe.

These are the heroes. Every day. Quiet, steadfast, and humble.

Today marks the 8th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. We lost so much that day, but we also saw the best of who we are. So let’s take a moment to remember, not just those we lost, but those who stood up in the face of evil and said, no more. And let’s not just remember on anniversaries, either.

Fly your flag. Shake a hand. Say thank you. Because freedom isn’t free, and somebody paid for ours.

God bless them all.