Real Life Heroes

December 19, 2012 | Filed under: Stuff

Sometimes, there’s nothing like a real life hero.

Four-legged, or two-legged.

Do you have a real life hero? Let’s pay tribute to them here today, and dedicate this whole blog to the people of Newtown, while we’re at it.

Posted by Jill @ 4:30 am | Make a Comment

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Patoct says:

My heart is broken for all of the victims and their families.

May you all find peace. My thoughts and prayers go out to all affected.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 5:43 am
Katie L says:

My heroes are the teachers and staff who lost their lives trying to protect the children. I pray God will help all the families who lost loved ones and everyone who survived this terrible tragedy
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 6:13 am
Judy F says:

Sending prayers and love to the people of Newtown. I can’t begin to image their pain.

I saw somewhere that comfort dogs were being sent to the area.

god bless.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 6:16 am
MaryAnne says:

The Newtown tragedy stopped our Christmas rush in it’s tracks to teach us lessons of love, survival, bravery, death and the real angels watching over their families. The heroes were the teachers/staff and every responder who crowded those narrow streets to help in any way they could.

God bless them all :sad
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 6:39 am
anne wirth says:

I think MaryAnne said it perfectly.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 7:50 am
jan m says:

My heroes are those families that need to get on with their lives for their other kids, while having huge holes in their hearts.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 7:59 am
Jenn Smith says:

Very true MaryAnne. You said it perfectly. I have two small children and I can’t imagine my life without them.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 8:06 am
Diane Engelhardt says:

My son Dustin who is an army Kiowa helicopter pilot. Been to Iraq 3 times and is currently in Afghanistan. On his second tour they lost 2 of their guys. He still keeps on touch with the families and visits the guys with a drink and a talk at Arlington.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 8:20 am
Kim Akers says:

My real life hero was my dad, who got up every morning and went to a job he hated for 40 years. When he got the job, it was because it was the only one available and he had a wife and a daughter to feed. Then along came me and the years passed and another daughter showed up and suddenly he had too much time invested in the job to leave and find something else that fulfilled him. He was good at his job and even ten years after he died, people still stop and ask if I’m Dick’s daughter and tell me what a great man he was. I thought of him and my mom (also gone now) when I saw all those pictures of grieving parents in Connecticut and realize how lucky I am.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 8:20 am
Tracy Gilpin says:

I don’t have a specific (personal to me) real life hero. However, in my opinion, the real life heroes are the first responders to any crisis/tragedy like Newtown; the men and woman who put their lives on the line every day so that we can continue to live free defending our freedom and that of other nations in other countries. the K-9s and those who work with them to locate lost souls, detect dangerous items (bombs), and help keep us safe. The people who, despite overwhelming grief in the aftermath of a tragedy, continue to go on and possibly helping others as they do.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 8:45 am
Sarah Fields says:

Search and rescue dogs, and their handlers, are amazing. I don’t know how they carry on through so much tragedy and heartache, but I thank them from the bottom of my heart.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 9:17 am
Gina S. says:

I read this over the weekend on Facebook….

Twas 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
When 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven’s gate.
Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
They were filled with such joy, they didn’t know what to say.
They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
“Where are we?” asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
“This is heaven.” declared a small boy. “We’re spending Christmas at God’s house.”
When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
But Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
Then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
Those children all flew into the arms of their King
And as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
One small girl turned and looked at Jesus’ face.
And as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, “I’ll take care of mom and dad.”
Then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.
Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
“Let My power and presence re-enter this land!”
“May this country be delivered from the hands of fools”
“I’m taking back my nation. I’m taking back my schools!”
Then He and the children stood up without a sound.
“Come now my children, let me show you around.”
Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
“In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT.”
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 10:25 am
Sue Peace says:

Honestly my parents are my heroes. My Dad was big into the power of positive thinking, etc. When he got sick he really didn’t show a lot of anger or anything like that, he just did his best to beat it and get better. He always told us girls (there are 4 of us) that we could do and be anything we set our hearts to. My Mum kept him at home and we cared for him there, it almost killed her (really by the time it was over she was not well), but that’s what she wanted to do. She had never been on her own until my Dad died (at 62). She amazes me with her strength and courage.
I am also an RN working in Critical Care and agree with a previous responder that the first responders are real heroes too. They see the worst of absolutely everyting, before it gets to anywhere else.
I could go on and on, lol, there are heroes everywhere, most of them are just hiding.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 10:40 am
Heather says:

My real life hero is my daughter Andrea. She is studying for a BS in nursing at Drexel in Philadelphia. Right now she is externing at the Jefferson University Hospital ER, a level one trauma center.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 10:52 am
Linda Henderson says:

The therapy dogs they took there were here in Joplin after our EF5 tornado and they really helped the children.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 11:10 am
Donna M says:

My real life heroes would have to be my Dad & my uncles that all served in WWII. They were men of integrity, took care of their families, remained loyal to the US their whole lives. I miss them. There are many everyday heroes the first responders, never forget those that choose to serve our country in the military. Thanks to all of them.

Gina S., that is just beautiful. So well said. Thanks for sharing here.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
Marcy says:

My real life heros are our country’s military personnel and all first responders. They give of themselves to keep us safe and our country free and never expect recognition. For that I am eternally grateful.

Gina S. – That made me cry in a good way. It’s a beautiful tribute.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Dee (CT) says:

My hero is my Dad…. but you have to look at some of the children in Newtown, as well as the teachers and first responders. That little 6 year old who told her Mom, she played dead…. she has to be a hero to me, because she blows me away, a child who thought that quickly. It is heart breaking what is has happened… too many times in this country. I hope things can change, and those children, those angels, they and their families will be in my thoughts and prayers….
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Carol O. says:

I think the Lutheran charities comfort dogs in Newtown, CT are heroes as well as the people who sponsor and train them. I hope the four legged heroes can bring some measure of comfort to those in pain. My heart goes out to those families.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Kelly W. says:

My heroes are everyone involved in helping the families of Newtown. The teachers, the first responders, the community, the doctors, the Church’s, and all of those that have gone to help aid those poor families. I can’t hardly watch the news without losing it, so I can’t even fathom what the families feel. They are all my heroes. Also each and every person who serves in the military.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Kim says:

I’m so glad that you are devoting this to the people of Newtown. Each and every person is going to have to find a way to accept and deal with the tragedy. The unthinkable happened, we are all still in shock because we can’t fathom that kind of loss and despair. I am holding my boys just a little tighter each and every day and I’m working very hard to cherish each moment, even those frustrating Mom moments.
Now, on to my hero. My Dad has always and will always be my hero. He is retired military and fought in the Viet Nam war. He is an amazing man that has always stood for those that couldn’t stand for themselves and made sure to instill in my sister and I the value of kindness, love and caring. He worked hard all of his life, even after his career in the military, to provide a good life for his family. He has never backed away from anything, he is always the first person to step up when there is someone in need and he doesn’t stop giving until everyone is taken care of. I’m so very grateful to have been blessed with having him as my father and I’m also very grateful that my boys are having the chance to really get to know him and to spend time with him. I couldn’t ask for more than for them to grow up to be even a little like their Grandfather.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
Jess M says:

As someone who works in an elementary school, my current real-life hero is any parent who kissed their first grader goodbye and put them on the bus on Monday morning. Monday was hell in every school in the nation, but at least we were there with our kids. I can’t imagine the parents who had to kiss their kids goodbye and just hope they came home safely.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Quilt Lady says:

This was such a sad day. I can’t believe anyone would do such a think. My heart goes out to these families. My heroes would be the teachers and staff that tried to protect these children.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
LSUReader says:

God bless and keep the people of Newton. My heart (and prayers) go out to them.

My real-life hero was my father. He was a WWII veteran, decorated for bravery. Upon his return, he became a police officer. He loved Mom and us kids with all his heart. He was a hero.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
MW says:

My real-life hero are my parents who raised us kids. and Also the Men and Women who serve our military. I am including the first responsers at the Newtown tragedy. My heart breaks everytime they show a funeral on TV for one of the children. My prayers are with the families and the whole town of Newtown.
May they all find comfort in God and his grace.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
Kai W. says:

My hero would be my grandfather. He immigrated here first and had to left my grandmother and my dad behind. It took years before he was able to send for them. By then my dad had married my mom and had me. I could imagine how Grandfather kept going while he was alone here to build a better future for his family.
Posted on December 19th, 2012 at 8:22 pm