Monday, November 12, 2007

A Day for Heroes


Today in the US we celebrate Veteran's Day - another Monday that may or may not be a holiday, depending on where you live. So instead of suggesting how to survive it, I figured it would be nice to suggest how to appreciate it - and the heroes it represents.

Romance writers need heroes. Without 'em, our heroines would do a lot more knitting than they do now. But when you think about it, everybody needs heroes, whether in a romance novel or not. And they're out there, quietly going about their business, day after day.

Yep, I'm talking about your average Joe. The Joe who puts on a uniform and badge and works his shift as Police Officer Joe. Or the guy who drops everything at the station when an alarm goes off, grabs his protective gear and emerges as Fireman Joe. Then there's the thousands of Joes who wake up every morning, not just Mondays, in a place about as far away from home as they can get. Those are the G.I. Joes, and they put on military uniforms without a blink.

They may not be tall, dark and handsome. They may not be hung like horses, or have the sexual talents of a bedroom god. But they are heroes, make no mistake about it. After all, it's gotta take something special to produce a Joe like that. Something in his heart that strengthens him enough to take on his daily job - some of which would make the rest of us curl up and whimper. And of course, Joe isn't alone. Jane is right there beside him, being a hero in her own right regardless of her gender.

So on this Veteran's Day Monday, I'm gonna take a moment and sent out a silent thankyou to all the heroes out there. And the families who stand beside them. No hero I've ever created for a story can come near to possessing the sheer guts and quiet strength you guys possess in abundance. May you survive this Monday and all the Mondays to come, healthy and happy. May you soon come home if you're far away, also healthy and happy. And may we all find a way to tell you how much we appreciate you - not just today, but every day.

And may we all enjoy a bit of a sleep-in if we can. After all, the holidays are approaching. It's gonna get rough, folks. Grab that hour now - in a few weeks, you'll wish you had!!!

5 comments:

Ciana / Syneca said...

Amen sister! We so often forget those quiet heroes and it's a real shame.

My hat's off to all those men and women in uniform, be it fire, police or military. Thanks to each and every one of you for helping to secure and protect the freedom I hold so dear.

And thanks for the reminder, Sahara. Happt Veteran's Day.

Humans. Cats. Boat. said...

Quiet heroes. I'll toast to that.

Sally Painter said...

What a great tribute to those brave souls. The very least we can do is take time out with a day of thanksgiving for them!

Nicole Austin said...

To the quiet heroes! Thankfully, there are many unsung heroes out there helping to make the world a better place every day.

N.J.Walters said...

What a beautiful tribute!

To all the quiet heroes at home and abroad, those we see and those we don't.

Thank you.