Heroes have played a major role in shaping U.S. history. They have separated and elevated the United States from all other countries. It’s time for us to listen to our heroes and to hear their stories. The accomplishments heroes produced will motivate all thinking Americans.

Heroes have saved the American dream. Their successes in life have been many. The protection of our freedoms has always been their #1 goal.

This article attempts to explain how and why our seasoned heroes chose to be silent for the past 75 years or so. Americans must understand the pain and sacrifice that others have endured not just our own. Everyone has bad
things happen to them, the key is to understand how to deal with them.

Today in the greatest country in the world young people are taking their own lives, while others are shooting up our schools. In their hearts they believe that life is unfair; bullies are calling them names, and picking on them, the teacher doesn’t like them etc. and the parents are agreeing with their children thinking that life is unfair. It’s time for parents to point out how lucky we truly are.

Problems can last a lifetime; problems with solutions tend to go away.

The reason young people think that life is unfair is because they have no connection with the past.

It’s time to hear more from American heroes that have been silent for no good reason.

Heroes have led me throughout my life and it has been a great learning experience helping me through each day.

You may have a relative or a neighbor living next door that has performed heroic acts in the military above and beyond all expectations.

For me, writing about heroes took some courage knowing that some
readers would not understand, however, I continue to believe that I am doing
the right thing for my country.  My love for these brave Americans can never be denied. My respect did not begin yesterday.

Our heroes have been silent because of political correctness and later convinced that it may be best to leave the past in the past. The anti–war crowd, political correctness groups and in some cases people that did not serve for one reason or another produced this wall of silence. Some thought that by destroying heroes we would move one step closer toward ending all wars, as though the U.S. had started these wars. The brave soldiers and their families were made to feel guilty when discussing their war experiences. A few became critical because they did not serve or were held stateside throughout the war. In many cases the choices were made for them.

The result was our heroes were never allowed to expose their nightmares beginning the healing process. They were encouraged to follow the code of silence out of sensitivity. What they really needed was for family and friends to understand what they had been through; freeing their minds from the secrets
of the past.  Soon the code of silence appeared normal to everyone. The conversations about their experiences began taking place at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) socials where everyone understood how the others felt and they didn’t feel they had to whisper out of sensitivity. The key was foreign wars, fought in another country. Members of the VFW had all been in foreign wars and some members felt more comfortable and unified with brothers that shared their experiences.

Heroes from the past are in demand today more than ever before. We must call on them once again urging them to tell their story.

Heroes returning from WWII, Korea and Vietnam have inspired people like me throughout life making life so much easier, encouraging me to take risk that I may not have otherwise taken.

My first encounter with heroes was at the age of five. My father was a paraplegic at Cushing V.A. hospital in Framingham MA. Heroes in his ward surrounded our family for nearly ten years; it was a powerful experience and an honor to be part of such a group. Today I know how real heroes respond in difficult situations.

Our veterans are not getting younger.  I pray that they will reveal their experiences to their families soon. Maybe ask them if they would like to
discuss their war experiences with you when the time is right.

Choose the right time.

Don’t ask if you don’t care.

Be alone with your hero, don’t be washing dishes or sending text messages. Give your complete and undivided attention to them alone.

Know when to back off. Possibly try at a different time.

Ask intelligent questions if you have them; if not simply thank them while explaining how important the conversation was to you.

Heroes need to get their story out before it is too late. This conversation will not remove the scars they wear today but it will bring some sense of peace to them and pride to you. They will never die as long as their story is told and inspiring others. Try presenting this letter to them a few days before asking them to talk with you, giving them time to think.

I have been there and been honored by similar conversations and have seen the results of our conversations. If I had missed this great opportunity in my life the heroic stories of great heroes would have died with them; since family and soldiers serving side by side have begun a new chapter as they are reassigned over the horizon and on the other side of Heaven’s Gate no longer with us. This is an opportunity to change a minus into a plus.

God bless America and all that serve along with their families.