Marine Corps Moms: Redefining "Hero"

May 06, 2004

Redefining "Hero"

In recent days, the nation has said goodbye to Army Ranger Patrick Tillman. Tillman's death in combat operations in Afghanistan caught national attention, because, at one point, Pat Tillman was a promising young NFL player, and the Arizona Cardinals thought highly enough of him to dangle a 3.5 million dollar contract as bait.

He turned it down to enlist in the U.S. Army.

Because he died in service to his nation, there's been a lot of attention paid to that decision. The national media has been all over the story. His death has been called a "tragedy", and Tillman has been hailed as a "hero". I've heard some interesting comments from military family members about this. Some question the attention that Tillman got, as opposed to the many others who've died on the battlefield, whom the national media has given one line in a list of casualties.

I don't begrudge the Tillman family one word of condolence from their fellow citizens, or one accolade that Pat Tillman's life has received.

Pat Tillman was, no doubt about it, "special". His death was a "tragedy". He lived his life as a bona fide "hero". None of that has to do with football. It wasn't his talent on the football field that made him special. It wasn't his ability to earn fame and fortune with that talent. Something else made Pat Tillman special.

When you compare Pat Tillman to others in professional sports, you can't help but notice the opulent, pampered lives of professional athletes. Unless you're living without the benefit of national media, you can't help but notice how many of them need criminal defense attorneys, either. However much attention they get, many of those talented athletes don't have the moral fiber or courage to earn the title of "hero". In that crowd, Pat Tillman is unique. When you compare him to the average, upwardly mobile, twenty something male in this country, he's a standout in that crowd, too.

Those people weren't his peers. Pat Tillman was a man who turned his back on the world's definition of success to face a greater challenge. He joined the Army. Not only did he join the Army, but he became one of the "elite" Rangers. Tillman made an honorable choice to serve his country. He followed through on that decision and he excelled.

To find his peers, you have to find other heroes. You have to seek out people who've made that same choice to serve in the defense of freedom on behalf of this nation. You have to find people who've passed on other opportunities, other paths for their futures, to pursue the same one that Pat Tillman chose. That group includes young men and women from small towns and big cities all over this nation.

When you ask military members about the death of Pat Tillman, they don't call him "special". They award him an accolade that the media cannot begin to understand. He's one of their own, and they call him "brother."

For a long time, the national media has talked about professional athletes as "heroes". I think that's changing. Our heroes can be honored for their skills, their talents, their sacrifices and their courage. They can be honored for protecting our lives, and our freedoms. There are hundreds of thousands of men and women who wear the uniforms of the U.S. Armed Forces. They're all heroes, and Pat Tillman was one of them.

Posted by at May 6, 2004 08:27 AM

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Comments

I will not argue at all that Pat Tillman was a hero and a great example for all. It bothered me though that Pat's death got so much attention. Of course, I understand it's because he was who he was, but I just think ALL of our fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines deserve to be recognized for their sacrifice. How many of the ones we've lost ever got to achieve what Pat did? Most of the guys we've lost were so young, with their whole lives ahead of them. Pat at least had a taste of what life could be, and achieved something most could only dream of. Again, I share the sorrow for the loss, but I feel it deeper when we lose the kid fresh out of bootcamp.
Thank you.
-Karey Keel-Stidham
Proud Marine Mom from WA

Posted by: Karey Keel-Stidham at May 11, 2004 09:01 PM