This is sort of a follow-up post to one I wrote a few weeks ago called A Hero We Met at Lowe’s.
I received a comment from Steve Bell (the hero) down-playing his heroic nature, and denying he’d done anything worthy of recognition. He also gave me the name of a friend of his who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms.
He insisted that his friend, Sergeant First Class James Thode, is the real American hero and deserves any and all recognition. It’s hard to argue with his logic.
In the comment he left on my aforementioned blog post, he suggested I look up Thode. As a result of his request, I conducted a simple on-line search of his name and came up with all kinds of information.
I cried as I read about his life, death and family he’d left behind. Because he was a Utah Guardsman, they covered his death on KSL. I remembered watching the story when it aired more than a year a go very vividly. I was impressed at the man and his service.
I also found this video which I found to be incredibly touching. If you have a few minutes you really should consider watching it. It’s an amazing tribute to this fallen soldier. It’s also an incredible example of the way a community can come together to memorialize our fallen military members.
If you can, watch it to the end. Not because anything spectacular happens, just because it’s touching to see. You’ll be glad you did.
What inspirational stories. Thank you for sharing about both men. They truely are heros. I was so impressed with the precession and even more with the people standing on the side with their hands over their hearts.
K – You are a FORCE for good in this world. I am so grateful to know you and hope to be more like you. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story.
xoxo, T.