Peyton Manning, War Heroes, Police, Firemen, Teachers, and Blood Donors

When you think of a hero, what image comes to your mind. I think of soldiers, fighting for freedom. I see in my minds eye (and on television news) young women and men, in a strange country, fighting so we do not have to wage war on American soil. I think of the exceptional soldiers who go above and beyond the call of duty to protect civilians and their fellow soldiers from death. The soldiers who place themselves between the enemy and their squad, who face death so their comrades can live. There are so many military heroes from so many wars.

I also think of our police officers, the brave men and women who protect us from "the bad guys" everyday. Some would argue that they are not real heroes, but these officers face danger and death every day. They go out to calls, never knowing who they could be coming up against. Never knowing if the car with the broken taillight is holding a desperate person, someone willing to kill for his freedom.

Then, I think of firemen. What bravery it must take to run 'into' a burning building while everyone else is trying to run out! But these courageous souls go into the blazing inferno to make sure everyone is safe. Some might claim that, 'It's their jobs to do that, that is what they are trained to do'. Would you want to do it, even for money?

These are the likely images that come to the minds of most people when the word 'hero' is mentioned. I would also like to include teachers in the category of hero. They strive to help our young to learn, with the hope that we can live in an educated society. A society that sees the futility of war. A society that is civilized. Most teachers, good teachers, go unrecognized as heroes. I would like to thank them here.

But, there is another type of hero. This hero is just a regular guy, someone who probably does not even think of himself as a hero; someone most people would not consider as a hero. I am talking about blood and organ donors. These people, blood donors, give of themselves just one pint of blood. They don't even miss it. It is not a great war wound, it won't leave a scar. But, they are heroes. Just ask the new mother whose premature baby needs a blood transfusion to live. Just ask the father whose child was in a horrific car accident. Just ask the cancer patient, the little girl with sickle-cell, the woman who needs a transplant. These things are made possible by the donation of blood. One pint of blood may save the lives of THREE people. One blood donation will give another chance. 38,000 blood donations are used every day. But every 2 seconds someone in America needs blood. And the shelf life of blood is only 42 days. The American Red Cross says over 4 million people donate blood annually, yet there is only a 2 day blood supply. That would be depleted in the case of a disaster!

It is not a particularly painful process to donate blood. A few questions about your health, and a poke to the finger will tell if you are able to give. Then, a needle is inserted in your arm. It is not really painful, but it is a LITTLE uncomfortable. If you have ever had an IV, then you already know the feeling. But, a LITTLE discomfort never killed anybody. The whole process, from questionnaire to finish, only takes about an hour. One hour to save three lives. A little needle prick to give another chance at life! And you would be a hero!!

January is national blood donor month. You can join the ranks of these celebrity blood donors, Pat Boone, Charlton Heston, and Shirley Jones by donating a pint of blood. Peyton Manning, star quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts and member of the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet says,"The Red Cross is an organization that responds to those in need and it is an honor to help them with the lifesaving role they play everyday in communities nationwide". To be eligible to donate, you must be at least 17 years of age and weigh at least 110 pounds. Please make a blood donation today. Give the gift of life. Thank you.

Here are some numbers and websites to find where you can donate today:
.American Red Cross 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543); www.givelife.org; www.redcross.org
American Association of Blood Banks 1-866-FROM-YOU (1-866-376-6968); www.aabb.org
America's Blood Centers 1-888-USBLOOD (1-888-872-5663); www.americasblood.org