The Everyday Heroes

What makes someone a hero? Well, there are many things that make someone a hero. This week the Huffington Post reminds us that there are people who put their lives on the line because they believe it is their duty to protect the people around them. These heroes are firefighters, police officers, military men and women, paramedics, emergency dispatchers and so on.

These brave men and women put the lives of others before their own. They are able to look past their own beliefs to help a diverse spectrum of people. Whether an injured victim is good or bad, they find that everyone deserves a second chance. If a criminal is well-known and well-liked a true hero is able to see past that in order to bring justice.

Firefighters put their health at risk every time they approach a burning building. Police officers must be able to seek out a suspect using evidence and not personal judgments. Those in the military fight for their country and although not all people may understand the direction the government decides to go in they should respect those who do what they think is best for our country and are willing to die doing it. Paramedics rush to the scene of a dreaded accident or incident and must be able to make decisions in a split second. The observations and choices they make can mean life or death. Emergency dispatchers must detach from their emotions in order to help someone without breaking down themselves.

Photographer Brandon Cawood, honors these everyday heroes in his "Not All Wear Capes" photo series. Cawood worked with Creative Arts Guild to turn his photo series into a calendar and all of the money made through selling the calendars was used for a scholarship. Along with the money made selling the calendars, there were also donations made and together a total of $6,000 was raised for a scholarship program that provided art classes for underprivileged children.

"I felt like it was a way I could kind of pay my respects to the people in my community that do these things day in and day out," Cawood said when he explained what inspired his project.

Even though it is their job to protect and save people, they did not have to go down that path. All the people who risk it all for others deserve respect. They may not have superpowers but their selflessness and courage are perhaps the greatest powers of all.

If you see one of these brave men and women, show them that you appreciate all that they do. Even something as simple as a smile will let them know that their services are appreciated.

To see the photographs taken by Cawood for the "Not All Wear Capes" project click on the link below:
http://brandoncawood.4ormat.com/not-all-wear-capes