Hometown Heroes

Frontline Workers….Our Everyday Heroes

Welcome to my first of a monthly column where I will bring you stories and reflections about our past and present hometown heroes. There are many definitions of a Hero….even one that describes a type of sandwich. But the one definition I find most encompassing says a Hero is: “A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.” Many people fall under this definition just in the performance of their everyday occupational  related duties, such as our Military, Fire Fighters, Law  enforcement officers, Nurses, doctors, nursing home and hospital workers.  Acts of heroism are also reported everyday by regular citizens and yes even on occasion a four-legged fur friend will perform a heroic act. Veterans will be recognized with past acts of heroism while serving, or after serving in the military.

Each Month this column will focus on heroes who are current Parma residents, past residents or those who have specific ties to the city. With the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 have seen enough acts of heroism to fill this column for many issues. So, for this inaugural article, I would like to pay a general tribute and honor to those front-line workers who stood fast in their performance of duty in caring for those contracting Covid 19 and continue to this day while caring for those with the new Delta Variant.

Let's take a minute and pay tribute and give recognition to those who have made extraordinary sacrifices. The first responders, nurses, doctors, and caretakers who were constantly in harm’s way while just performing their everyday work duties. Imagine going to work each day with the fear that each person you come in contact could result in your being a victim and being admitted to ICU, or worse. Not being able to hug your loved ones and having to sleep in a separate room of your house or not even going home for fear of exposure to your own family.

News articles daily of nurses, doctors and first responders reaching the breaking point to where they were on the brink of giving up on their career or even taking their own life, only to banish the thoughts and continue day after day with their life saving and comforting duties despite the risks.

Thank You All for Your Unselfish and Dedicated Service. You are all Heroes.

(If you have a person or organization you would like to see recognized as a hero, please submit to: tonyk.parmaproud@yahoo.com please include your contact information)

Tony Kessler

Past Commander of American Legion Post 572 in Parma. 6 years in US Navy.

Executive board member of "We Are Parma Proud"

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Volume 13, Issue 9, Posted 3:48 PM, 09.01.2021