Everyone can be a hero in waiting
By Steve Herring
Published in News on September 14, 2016 11:57 AM
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Southern Wayne High School ROTC Cadet Lt. Col. Austin Peedin, cadet squadron commander, salutes as the U.S. flag is raised Friday morning during the school's 14th annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony. In the background at left are members of the 916th LRS of the 916th Air Refueling Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
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News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Southern Wayne High School Cadet Jessica Trejo, right, and others shake the hands of members of the 916th LRS of the 916th Air Refueling Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Friday during the school's 9/11 remembrance ceremony.
DUDLEY -- The United States changed forever 15 years ago, Southern Wayne High School Principal Dr. John Boldt said.
Addressing the school's student body Friday morning during the school's 14th annual 9/11 ceremony, Boldt told students that the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001, had shown that people are "heroes in waiting."
The ceremony was conducted by the school's Air Force ROTC cadets and Cadet Naomi Martin was the narrator.
Also on hand were representatives from the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, fire trucks from Mount Olive, Smith Chapel, Jordans Chapel, Dudley, Arrington, Mar-Mac, and Thoroughfare, and members of 916th LRS of the 916th Air Refueling Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
"Our country was attacked when al-Qaeda terrorists flew highjacked airplanes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and when the highjacked Flight 93 crashed into a field in Pennsylvania," Boldt said. "The men and women standing before you and the first responders, firefighters and law enforcement who died on 9/11 are and were heroes in waiting.
"Your duty and sacrifices are greatly appreciated. The police and firefighters who died in the 911 attack did not intend to become heroes on that date. That was not what drove them to run into the burning building. They were just doing their chosen job helping others."
It is a choice that everyone may be called on to make at some point in time, Boldt said.
"This is the lesson we can take from 9/11 -- everyone, all of us, has the capability of becoming a hero in one degree or another," Boldt said. "Sometimes we might not realize it. We are all heroes to someone when we make vital sacrifices on their behalf that enhances their quality of life."
Many will never be "big-time" heroes because they will not face an opportunity to face "big-time" evil, or give aid in natural disaster, he said.
"Yet, there is much of the social habits of heroism that can be practiced on a dally basis by each of us as every day heroes," Boldt said. "Serve others. Help others. Sacrifice for others for the good of others. Be a hero in waiting -- an everyday hero. These are the enduring lessons of 9/11. Never forget them."
USAF Col. George W. Schantz Jr., senior aerospace science instructor, offered closing comments and encouraged the students to shake the hands of the emergency personnel and military.
Music instruction Cindy Grant sounded reveille on the trumpet followed by the flag being raised and the national anthem played by the Southern Wayne High School Marching Saints band.
The flag was then lowered to half-staff.
Mrs. Grant also played taps.
Cadets demonstrated the proper way to fold a flag as Cadet Naomi Martin explained what each fold of the flag symbolizes.
The folded flag resembles one of the tri-corner hats worn by colonial soldiers.