Mental Health Matters: Showing gratitude to heroes one way to honor them
Ashland Times Gazette
Everyone loves a good story. Stories carry meaning, transcend the present and take us to places we would never know without those very stories.
In the records of our society, the stories of unheralded heroism touch us, cause us to ponder their meaning and how our life might be without such heroes.
The dictionary definition of a hero is a person distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength, a champion, someone who fights for a cause.
In my eyes, both of my brothers are such heroes. On his 18th birthday, my brother, Paul, found himself in the rice paddies of Vietnam. On his 26th birthday, my brother, Greg, was sworn in as an officer assigned to train troops for Vietnam. Both seldom speak of those far off days; both were forever changed by their "call to duty."
I venture to guess there are very few of us who are without memories of someone who served; who gave uncommon valor in very common ways.
On Memorial Day, we publicly honor all the men and women who have served our country and have given the greatest of sacrifices -- their lives. It also is important to find ways to honor the living. Whether it is a direct "thank you," a daily prayer or a personal moment of silence, any time is the right time to honor our men and women in the armed forces.
Hospice of North Central Ohio wants to do its part to draw attention to our military heroes. Joann Foreman, hospice volunteer coordinator in conjunction with the hospice veterans partnership, has helped organize a "Pinning Ceremony" to honor our patients who are veterans.
With permission, when hospice staff learns that our patient is a veteran, family members and staff come together and hospice volunteers Noel Mooney, and his wife, Barbara, recognize the veteran with a "pin of the American flag and honored veteran flag" and the statement "we pay special tribute to you for your military service to America by advancing the universal hope of freedom and liberty for all."
This column is titled "Mental Health Matters" and gratitude is essential to good mental health. Singer Lionel Hampton once wrote that, "Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind."
The heart teaches us to see with different eyes; eyes open to the nuances of courage, responsibility and the call to give to a cause bigger than ourselves.
Maturity has been defined in various ways. One of my favorite is that "maturity is planting shade trees we shall never rest under."
Heroes make a difference. We need heroes -- to teach us, to captivate us through their words and deeds and to inspire us to greatness. Heroes bring out the best in us. Telling our heroes how they made a difference honors the best in them.
n For any questions specific to mental health and/or alcohol and drug problems, call the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Ashland County at 419-281-3139. The board funds a network of mental health and addiction services provided by Appleseed Community Mental Health Center, Catholic Charities Services of Ashland County and the Ashland County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. For questions specific to grief or bereavement, call Diane Park or Martha Jorden at Hospice of North Central Ohio at 419-281-7107.
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