The Real Super Heroes

As a young child, your mentors are those who are strong and fight evil. To many young children those so called “heroes” wear capes and were on every cartoon channel on Saturday mornings. The image of being a super hero and fighting off villains is a dream that many young boys and girls have. One of the times of years that you see many dressed up as their favorite super hero is on Halloween. Just a week ago I had seen many children wondering the streets wearing mask and capes out to protect the world, or shall I say fill their bags with goodies. Now I’m going to have to admit my family all dressed up as super heroes (because my kids are only young once and I really couldn’t get away with dressing them up as cute little furry animals anymore).

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As I viewed the calendar here at work I noticed November 11, 2014  Veterans Day, my thoughts on the whole “we were super heroes for Halloween” idea seemed kind of silly. Who really wears those capes and mask? Who are the ones that keep our streets safe? Who are those guys/girls that come out during the day when were busy at school or during the night when were snuggled in the warmth of our loved ones and our comfy bed?

The view of a cape just went from bright red to a dark camouflage. The image of a mask is a face covered in sweat, dirt and mud from the long days and nights awake and alert. Real super heroes don’t wear capes. They don’t shoot out webs from their wrist. They don’t fly around in a skimpy outfit with their beautiful hair flowing as if they just came from the salon. They don’t rip off their shirt and turn green when the enemy upsets them.

Real heroes are those who have served in one of the branches of the United States Army, Marine Corp., Navy, Coast Guard, and Air force. They have spent time away from their loved ones, friends, and their country because their hearts believe in fighting for our freedom. They believe in standing up and doing what’s right to keep our country free. “The home of the Free and the Brave” just doesn’t happen. It happens because hundreds and thousands of men and women have put on that uniform, laced up those boots, put those dog tags around their neck and said I’m here to serve.

For those who have given their time and served for our country….THANK  YOU! Go out of your way today to thank a Veteran. Put on your (invisible) cape and lend a hand to say thank you for being brave and serving our country. Happy Veterans Day to those who don’t need a bright red cape to know you’re a super hero.