Stories of courage, caring a major comfort to all

Most of us will never be involved in a daring rescue.
Even more of us will never routinely save people’s lives.
Of course, it’s such stories everyone wants to read.
Sure, most of us do our share of assisting the elderly or the young or even calling 911.
But though that makes us a better person, it’s not the same as coming to someone’s rescue.
That is, being the difference in whether someone lives or dies.
Last week, we featured two stories on the same page on the same day about those kinds of rescues.
In the one instance, two young men — brothers — came to a woman’s rescue after her car plunged over a hill and into Cheat Lake.
A local Rotary club honored the pair at a ceremony, noting their actions embodied its belief in service above self.
Despite the honors, the brothers were quick to point out they are no heroes.
“Concerned citizens, maybe. People doing the right thing when they should,” one of them said.
He added that the heroes are the first responders who do such things daily and get little recognition for it.
Oddly, the very same day the two brothers were honored, some local first responders were, too.
Or more precisely, profusely thanked by a man whose life they saved after he suffered a heart attack.
Members of Granville’s Volunteer Fire Department and Mon Health System’s EMS responded to that call and made all the difference.
Or as their patient on the other end of that emergency call described the outcome, “I’m still here because you were there.”
But almost as importantly as these actual rescues were the messages that emerged from these ceremonies.
In the one, the Cheat Lake Rotary’s president insisted that all of us are capable of helping others and helping to change the world.
Whether called on in an emergency or getting involved in a public service project, you can help.
In the other, the VFD and EMS members impressed on everyone that they were just doing their jobs.
And whether you hear sirens screaming to a fire, a traffic accident or a medical emergency, they will always be there for us.
Sometimes you almost get the impression people have more regard for their phones than for others. But our takeaway from these stories is, we still care about each other.
Knowing that anyone might come to your rescue while others stand ready to do so at a moment’s notice is a major comfort.
Such acts of courage and concern almost create their own vocabulary where words of thanks fall short.
Yet, we still cannot thank such men and women who ride to our rescue enough.