Raymond V. Mariano
There are a couple of words that some people constantly misuse that really get under my skin. I’m not talking about common grammatical mistakes. I’m talking about taking simple words and distorting their meaning to the point where they become almost meaningless.
Those two words are “hero” and “patriot.”
Over the years, I have given a number of speeches focusing on the subject of heroes. To me, a hero is someone who does something extraordinary, at great risk to themselves, for the benefit of someone else.
When Worcester lost six brave firefighters who rushed into a burning building in search of a homeless couple, I asked that all of the students in the public schools write essays about the true meaning of heroism. I was overwhelmed by the beautiful and touching responses that I was privileged to read.