What Makes a Hero?

Last week I wrote a post about Chelsey B. Sullenberger, the now famous pilot who saved many lives by his quick thinking and doing his job well. In my post, I called him a hero because that is how I see him because of his actions. The local newspaper in my community has an Opinion Line column. People can call in an anonymous opinion the the paper that will be published in this column. Sunday I read one such opinion that said Captain Sullenberger was not a hero because he was just doing his job.
I beg to differ! As I write this post, I am watching the inauguration of Barack Obama as our 44th president of the United States. I am overwhelmed by his speech of overcoming adversity and of hope. I think back to Abraham Lincoln and what he did for this nation. He was doing his job.
I am proud to say that my husband serves as a lieutenant for our city's fire department. Each time he enters a burning building in search of people stranded inside, he is just doing his job.
My dad gets up and goes to work each day while enduring prostate cancer...to do his job.
The lunch ladies who give free food to those students who have forgotten their money, or don't have money to buy lunch are doing their jobs.
They are all heroes, as are so many people who make a positive difference in the lives of others while "doing their job".
I shudder to think what would have happened if Chelsey Sullenberger had called in sick to work that day, or had decided not to do his job right at that crucial moment. Job or not, it is a person's actions and willingness to put other's before them that makes them a hero. If a person had to run a punch a clock before they could scoop a child out of the path of an oncoming car, nobody would be a hero.
Thank you, heroes, for doing your jobs!

Heroic Activities Celebrate Heroes
This article from Education World discusses heroes and offers links to activities, resources and lesson plans for the study of heroes for grades K-12.