What Was Her Name?

My heart remains very heavy today.

Yesterday, our cities, state, and country recognized a fallen officer from the Adams County Sheriff’s department. It was reported across social media, televised on major networks, and appeared in many newspapers. Many of us watched and paid our respects, thoughts, and prayers to those closest to him...

On all accounts, he was a hero. He chose to act heroically each and every day, and ultimately he died because of that commitment.

And yet... many of you may not know that in our state not very far away from Adams County, there is a devastated family, mourning the loss of a firefighter who took his own life last week.

Yesterday, as I watched our fallen officer be honored, a war raged inside of me.

I kept thinking to myself ... how incredibly sad that this firefighter received no heroic recognition of how he risked his life for others. There was no acknowledgment of how he lived; instead, a quiet goodbye on how he died. I can only imagine the shame, guilt, pain, confusion, and anger that is confronting the family. I know nothing of the firefighter that chose to end his life last week... but make no mistake… he was a hero... #unknownheroes

AND ...though not mentioned in any newspaper or television station, a war Vet somewhere else took her own life and none of you know that hero’s name.

#unknownheroes

This raises the question: what makes someone a hero? Is it how they die? Or is it how they choose to live their lives? Or perhaps, it is both?

As you read this, you might question why I consider a firefighter a hero despite the fact that he took his own life. You may even be wondering who I am.