Dear Dad,
Thank you for being my real life hero. Usually when we think of ‘hero’ we picture Superman, Batman, or Spiderman. But when I think of hero, I think of you. I remember in school they asked who our heroes were and I thought deeply about it. What is a hero? When you look up the definition of a hero, it comes up with “a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” It’s not the muscles you had, or the blue and red tights and cape you could have worn that made me write ‘my dad’ on that piece of paper in the third grade. It was much more than that. It was the helmet you wore, the strength you held, and the courage you kept in your heart.
My definition of my hero was the ‘Fireman’s Prayer’ that hung on the wall of every house you were ever in. From day one you were my hero and I accepted that sometimes you had to be someone else’s too, it was your job. Other than being my first love, my protector, the set of arms that I feel safest in, you are my fireman. It holds so much more meaning to it than people think, especially to me. At such a young age, I didn’t really understand it, why someone would go into a burning house and risk their life for someone else and it honestly scared me. But one thing I knew for sure was you put so much heart into it and it made me feel proud and I will forever feel proud. I’ll always remember what I felt putting your huge, ashy helmet on my head with the big burnt white ‘4’ shining on the front, sitting in the big fire trucks and pretending to be you, meeting the men that you worked with, they became family. Or watching you in the parade in your Class A uniform and posing in front of the big tree out front in the yard.
I felt so honored to be your daughter. That feeling will never go away. I’m happy to be a fireman’s daughter, falling asleep to the sound of a scanner every night, it became so normal, I know the tones by heart now. Or hearing the scuffle of feet as soon as their was a big call and yelling, ‘I love you, be safe’ as you headed out the door. As I’ve grown I’ve learned much more about the fireman job and responsibilities. I’ve learned just how amazing you and every other fireman is for their selflessness and bravery. It takes a real hero to go into a burning building to save someone. And with everything, you showed me how to be selfless and to put all my heart into everything I do, to be proud. So, whenever someone asks me who my hero is, ill forever write or say, “my dad”. I love you Dad, my hero, my fireman.
