Is it the one who does the great thing? Or is it the one who makes the great thing possible?
Things did not go well for the Belgian, English, and French Armies in the early days of World War II. Their trust in the "old" way of thinking (the supposed invincibility of the Maginot line in a defensive conflict) was blown away by the German Blitzkrieg style of attack using multiple weapons systems and strategies. In short order the Allies were pushed back, surrounded by the the Germain armies on land and the English Channel at their back.
And then came the miraculous evacuation at Dunkirk, where vessels of every size and shape were put to use rescuing British and French forces from certain annihilation. It was truly heroic, and saved significant manpower for the Allies to regroup and fight again another day. They write books and make movies about Dunkirk.
What you don't hear about are those heroic troops who stayed in the line and fought a rear-guard action that bought the time for the Dunkirk evacuation to happen. Yes, there are nuances to this part of the story since, for some reason, the Germans did not exploit all their advantages. Even so, many units sacrificed their lives and energies to allow their comrades to escape. And they were killed in action, summarily executed, or captured and sent to POW Camps. They never marched in the victory parades they made possible. No movies are made about this.
So I ask the question again. Who was the hero?
We often see the football or basketball star give credit to their single mom who worked three jobs to raise them, or to the teacher who believed in them when nobody else did. Aren't THEY the TRUE hero? Without taking away anything from the person who "does the deeds," Perhaps it is the unsung heroes who are worthy of remembrance and special honor.
And while we are the "hero" of our own story there are many others in our lives who sacrificed on our behalf that we might succeed. They may be unrecognized by the world but are not forgotten by us. Thank you. Know that we carry forward your impact upon us and your investment in us each day.
And your greatest legacy is not our success, but the fact that you taught to invest in others to make them a success. Like a real hero does.
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