Heroes inspired and fascinated me since I was a very young girl. A hero, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is a “man (or for me, also a woman) “who exhibits extraordinary bravery, firmness, fortitude, or greatness of soul; a man (or woman) admired and venerated for achievements and noble qualities.”
Living in a small farm community, heroes surrounded me. These heroes bore little resemblance to the sports figures or celebrities that many young people admire today. No, these were the quiet heroes who endured some hardship, disaster, disability, or tragedy with an unyielding courage and grace while enduring their pain or adversity.
My parents constantly talked about our local heroes: Parents of children who died tragically; a farmer hurt in an accident, but continued to farm in spite of the disability; a husband lovingly caring for his wife with multiple sclerosis; a wife raising her seven children after her husband died suddenly; a farmer’s family who suffered because of economic disasters, such as a barn burning or crops destroyed…and the list goes on and on.
When I began reading, newly found heroes outside our small community caught my attention. My small rural parochial school library owned a series of hardbound books that I fondly called the Blue Books. Actually called 
the Childhood of Famous Americans series, these biographies described famous Americans and included only silhouette pictures, which also became another nickname for the series, Silhouette Biographies. I voraciously read almost every single book in the library’s collection.
These books introduced me to America’s early history and famous people growing up. Pocahontas, Brave Girl brought to life a young Virginia Indian girl living along, for me, a magical place along the faraway Atlantic Ocean coast with lush forests and fauna. Pocahontas was born about 1595, daughter of Powhatan. John Smith sailed from England on a ship with many masts and sails, a strange-sounding vessel in my young estimation, and landed in Jamestown in 1607. Pocahontas saved Smith’s life, and she eventually went to England, becoming a great curiosity among the Londoners. My last name was Wood and I was half English, but lived in a large German-descended community. I felt so excited reading about my English grandparents’ ancestral homeland that I then read Virginia Dare: Mystery Girl who was the first child born in America to English parents, in 1587.
The other childhood biographies also fascinated me and continued my American history journey. Of course there were the greats—George Washington, Ben Franklin, and Abigail Adams, wife of John s. The book entitled Molly Pitcher: Girl Patriot greatly educated me on the Revolutionary War introduced me to war and heroic efforts by a woman. Mary Ludwig Hays followed her husband during the Revolutionary War and served as a water girl, where she was given the name Molly Pitcher. She courageously cared for wounded and dying soldiers throughout the war.. The most amazing story occurred during the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778 when her husband was carried off the battlefield. Probably knowing he wasn’t critically injured,”Molly” took his place at the cannon and continued to “swab and load” the cannon all day, almost losing her life as a cannon flew past her.
Many other biographies taught me about our American history and courageous people, but one other memorable book greatly touched me—Eleanor Roosevelt: Courageous Girl because she was married to Franklin, who had polio when a young man. Eleanor reminded me of myself in many ways, who was a child left alone and feeling isolated—in her case due to her parents’ deaths. She overcame her shyness and came to be a great humanitarian and outspoken activist. Perhaps Eleanor also reminded me of mom, because she was a caretaker to Franklin. She continues to be one of my most beloved heroes.
All these biographies infused in me the deep belief that one person can make a positive difference in the world. These “Blue Books” laid my foundation to become an activist, and then look for the many heroes around me—people who show fortitude and greatness of soul as they make a difference in the world around them.
My next story is about Rae Bower, an amazing and inspiring woman, who single-handedly brought sidewalks to one of the busiest commercial areas of Grand Rapids, Michigan and improved transportation services for persons with a disability in our area, because of, and inspite of, being afflicted with multiple sclerosis.
by 
Great! I was wondering if you were alive yet. Keep it up and let’s do lunch.
Let’s see…What was that great John Wayne movie quote from “Big Jake”…”I thought you were dead?” Reply: “Not hardly.” Thanks for your kind words. Yes, we will have to do lunch. Jenny
As a child I also read every single one of those biographies I could find! LOVED THEM and was also inspired by them. I agree Jenny, ordinary everyday people can change the world. Steve Jobs said it best: “Everything you use in this world was created by someone who was no more intelligent than you.”
Great article. You always amaze me.
Thanks, Sue. You always amaze me. See you on Tuesday. I am going to try the mushroom recipe again.
Hi Jenny! Congratulations on opening the blog. Rae Bower… I confess that I don’t know a single thing about her but I am about to find out.
Keep writing.
Tammy
Hi Tammy. Yes, I finally am blogging. WordPress was much more difficult than I ever imagined. Rae Bower was such an amazing person. The next blog will challenge my video editing capabilities. Let’s get together soon. Love, Jenny
Loved your article! Makes me think of the farm and old times.
Did you have the “Blue Book Series” in your public school library? You get a hug from me and thank you for your kind words.
My fascination with the biographies of heroes began in our junior high school library after I had read one about Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I especially enjoy those that present the whole person, flaws and all. More recent interests have ranged from Alexander the Great to the early automakers such as Ransom Eli Olds.
We learn so much from biographies, sometimes the bad as well as the good.
Congrats, Jenny! I also agree that one person can make a (huge) difference. There is power with great research, reading, and sharing to help others. You are a hero with the pen!
Jenny,
Thanks for sharing. Too often we forget that the real heroes are those selfless people who are there for us at just the right moment, shunning the spotlight and accolades. We miss your smiling face here on the lower westside!
Barb King
Thank you for your insight. Yes, I will stop by soon.
Great article Jenny ! Miss you. Stop by soon.
Thank you for putting into words the experience of what community and family used to mean and what it still is in some places. It brought back my mom’s stories about the small farming community in n.e. Kansas where she was raised. Thanks for the insight into why it matters.