Chicago Tribune letter writers recently weighed in on Donald Trump’s comments regarding Sen. John McCain’s wartime service, and one writer asked for a definition of a hero.
I am a veteran of the Vietnam War. I have been recognized by the U.S. Army for certain acts of bravery at that time. I do not consider myself to be a hero.
Do we use the hero characterization too often? I remember hearing a remark from a source I cannot name after the Sept. 11 attacks that gave me a clear guide on how the term hero should be used: “… everyone is brave, heroes are brave a little bit longer than everyone else.” There were many brave people before, after and on Sept. 11 — not all were heroes.
Assigning hero status to those we believe deserve it will always be subjective, but the words above give me guidance for the use of the term “hero.”
—George Weiler, Woodstock
