Look for the Heroes

Written on 4/17/2013

By Jennifer R. Gilliland

Like many of you out there, I was glued to the television on April 15, 2013, watching the footage and news feeds about the bombing of the Boston Marathon. If you have young children, like I do, you were probably trying your hardest to keep them from seeing too much of the carnage on the TV screen. But kids are smart, sometimes smarter than we give them credit for. Sometimes honesty is best, but how honest should you be? What positive lesson can be gained from any of this?

Then I noticed the footage of the bombing showed the people who rushed in to help. The initial blast knocked some people to their knees, but they rose up and rushed in to help. The horror of the event had a silver lining. The preparedness of the staff of the event, the fact it was at the finish line, the well trained emergency personnel – all these things together took a terrible event and kept it from becoming a catastrophe.

But the stories that have come out are also phenomenal. Like the story of the man and his son who were completing their 31^st Boston Marathon. Did I mention he is 72 and his son is wheelchair bound with cerebral palsy? Dick Hoyt has completed more than 1,000 different marathons, duathalons, and triathlons pushing his son, Richard age 51, in a specially engineered wheelchair.

Dick ran his first race with Richard in 1977 when his son wanted to complete a five mile race in honor of a paralyzed athlete. When the race was complete – and they came in next to last – his son told him when they were running, he didn’t feel handicapped. They have been competing ever since. Their story is fascinating and empowering and you can find out more at www.teamhoyt.com.

Or there is Patton Oswalt. A comedian and actor who simply took the time to put his thoughts into words and has caused a viral sensation on the internet. Better known as the voice of Remi on “Rattatouie,” he now will be remembered as the man who said “When you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, 'The good outnumber you, and we always will.'" Not bad for the voice of a rat.

Finally, what about the man in the cowboy hat? The one seen jumping into the middle of the chaos and helping so much he was covered in blood but not injured. His name is Carlos Arrendondo, a Costa Rican implant into the United States who has lived through the worst a parent can: the loss of two children – one to war and one to suicide.

He happened to be a spectator that day in Boston in support of a group running in honor of fallen veterans. This is not the first time he has gotten national media attention. In 2004, his son, Marine Lance Cpl. Alexander S. Arredondo, was killed in Iraq. On his 44^th birthday, the military notified him of the death of his son and in his grief he set his van on fire and severely burned himself. He survived and proceeded to create a moving memorial to his son in the back of his pick-up truck. In 2007 he was severely beaten in an anti-war demonstration. Then in 2011, his other son, Brian, took his own life.

Through all this horrific turmoil in his life, he jumped in and gave lifesaving aid to those in need. He didn’t think twice, he didn’t even hesitate. He just helped.

But he wasn’t the only one. So many people ran to the bombing areas. They didn’t waver. They ran to the center of the action and began giving first aid that probably saved lives.

And then my seven year old son walked in as I was watching the news. He immediately wanted to know what was going on. I didn’t really know how to tell him something bad had happened without worrying him too much.

Then I was reminded of a quote from Fred Rogers of “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.” He said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

 Now I know what to say to my son. Look for the heroes, not just the ones in uniform, but the everyday people who didn’t questions whether they should help their fellow man, they just did it.