Where do heroes come from? A study of their backgrounds and biographies, where they went to school and what church they might have attended could provide some answers to that question, but only some. For example, why did those three Americans aboard the Amsterdam-to-Paris Express leap to their feet and go after the terrorist who was rampaging through the train? Because that is what Americans do. We fight back. It's part of our national tradition. And has been since even before Concord and Lexington.
The more we honor our heroes, the more we may have. Which is one reason why it was so good to read about Buddy Smith, a farm boy from Lincoln County, getting his Silver Star nearly 50 years after he'd earned it one terrible day in Vietnam when his patrol was ambushed. He was one of only half a dozen soldiers in his platoon to survive the attack, and he did it heroically, recovering weapons and ammo from the dead to keep the enemy at bay until help could arrive.
And now Army Specialist Smith's heroism has been recognized at last. Good. For the more American heroes we honor, we more we are sure to have. And this land of the brave and home of the free can never have enough. Consider yourself saluted, soldier, as you pin that Silver Star on your chest. It says a lot about you--and a country that does not forget its heroes.
Editorial on 09/05/2015