His Day Off

This week, I've decided to honor some of the brave acts of kindness shown on the most tragic of days in American history--September 11, 2001. Officer George Howard was safely at home on the morning of 9/11. A member of the JFK Airport Emergency Services Unit, George was taking a well-deserved day off when he saw the mayhem unfolding on his TV set. Officer Howard wasted little time. He jumped on a fire engine headed to the scene and arrived to help right before the first building collapsed. He died that day under an avalanche of debris, but his act of bravery and kindness for his fellow officers and citizens did not. His mother, Arlene, wrote former President George W. Bush to tell him of her heroic son, and enclosed his badge in the letter. President Bush still carries that badge with him to this day.

I cannot imagine making such a split second decision, one that could end my life. There are many who made that decision on 9/11--ordinary people who became heroes among us in our greatest time of trial. But what's interesting to me is that we ALL have the choice everyday to be a hero to the people around us in their greatest times of need. We make decisions as parents, spouses, mentors, family members, and friends to pull someone our of their "burning buildings" or "avalanches of despair." Look for the tragedies around you and rush to the scene without thinking about how being involved could affect YOU. You can be a hero too!