Heroes can come in all shapes and sizes

The Forest Grove News-Times, Sep 12, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

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A decade ago, when this newspaper decided to ask readers to help select “Hometown Heroes” as part of the annual Founders’ Day celebrations in Forest Grove, there was no way to know that the second week in September would become forever linked with the horrific events on the East Coast – a day in which each moment of anguish seemed to be countered by an act of uncommon bravery.

We’ll admit that it seems a bit odd to be naming a trio of local “heroes” the same week that people around the world are remembering others who made the ultimate sacrifice six years ago.

The three Forest Grove residents honored in this week’s Heritage Days special section never raced into a crumbling skyscraper or burst into the cabin of an airplane commandeered by suicidal terrorists. But something City Councilor Pete Truax said Monday night helped close that linguistic divide.

Reading a proclamation declaring this week a “Week of Remembrance,” Truax asked that citizens keep in mind those who lost their lives in 2001 as well as those who “daily perform acts of courage to protect us here in Forest Grove.”

Then, acknowledging the group of city firefighters and police officers quietly standing in the back of the Community Auditorium, he added, “and I know none of the people back there would tell you that they are heroes. They’d say they’re just doing their job.”

And, in that respect, they are like the three people featured in our Heritage Days section. Ignatius and Marcella Evers, like Kristin Ludwig, initially balked at the idea of being singled out for recognition.

Their concern for the other members of our community, they said, doesn’t make them heroes.

Rather than quibble with the title, we’d rather focus on the fact that their deeds, like those of the scores of Hometown Heroes before them, are worth honoring, despite their protests.