The word “hero” means many different things to many different people.
Many will heard the word hero and think of comic books characters like Superman, Batman, Spiderman and countless others who have super-human skills which they put to good use for the betterment of the people around them.
Metropolis, Gotham and the fictionalized New York City would undoubtedly be worse off without the aforementioned three protecting against the super-villains who would harm the residents.
In real life, though, it’s rare we see the stereotypical super-villains battling it out with our heroes in a clear-cut case of good versus evil. In fact, outside of wartime, we don’t often consider the idea of heroes at all.
And when we do, it’s rare there is a single, personified villain these heroes are battling against. Rather, the evils in the world are most often of our own making.
This week’s Westlock News features stories about two people who, while they would both likely eschew the title “hero,” it might nonetheless apply.
Dion Lefebvre is an ordinary man who found himself in the inconceivable situation of being the first on the scene of one of the most devastating motor vehicle crashes in this province in recent memory.
There’s nothing particularly special about him, but his actions in pulling survivors from the wreckage of that collision were without a doubt heroic. Disregarding his own safety, he dove right in to help others.
Trina Preugschas probably wouldn’t want to be described as heroic, either. She was involved in a car crash more than 15 years ago that left her without the use of her arms and legs.
But she wouldn’t back down and accept her fate, instead resolving to be one of the few who are able to walk away from the wheelchair. After nearly two decades of hard work, she’s getting closer to achieving her goal and is inspiring others in the process.
The 2014 cycleforward tour she led through Westlock County last week was full of people who were inspired and moved by her heroic efforts in her own life.
The heroes among us don’t have super powers. What they have is an incredible and inspirational strength of will — and the selflessness to share that strength with others.
