On Heroes

"Heroes take journeys, confront dragons, and discover the treasure of their true selves."
- Carol Lynn Pearson

On this Veterans Day I want to take a chance to say a little bit about a friend who passed away fighting in Afghanistan.  I knew Sargent Daniel J. Patron in high school, back when he was Danny P.  I was devoted to speech and theater, and Danny's mom, Kathy, was our very devoted coach. Danny started out quiet at first, bashful almost, but it didn't take long for us to realize what we we're dealing with. Danny could have us in stitches in the matter of seconds and his mother blushing all with one joke. 

There are people in your life that you lose touch with, and Danny was one of those people.  Even though we hadn't spoken in years, I often remembered him and the crew of people I spent time with backstage at the Perry theater or on the bus to a speech tournament.  Danny was always happy, goofy and wonderfully weird.  When I think of high school, I remember laughing.  Constantly.  And Danny had a lot to do with that. He was even my homecoming date one year, and I must say - he was the most wonderful gentleman and had me laughing the whole time.  

 

Sargent Dan Patron courtesy of Dan Patron's Facebook Page

 

He went on to join the Marines after high school and served two tours of duty in Iraq.  In April he went to Afghanistan and was killed on August 6th while diffusing a roadside bomb.  He left behind a lovely wife and a truly amazing family.

I traveled back to Ohio for the funeral and was beyond unprepared for the shock of being surrounded by familiar faces that I hadn't seen in a decade. We all grew up, we're working very grown up jobs and owning very grown up houses.  We are getting married, getting promoted and having children.  And we're being reminded, at the onset of our grown up lives, how negligent we've been with friends from our younger years. 

 

Sings of grief were everywhere, but while waiting in line an amazing three hours (a testament to how many people had been touched by Danny) I found myself saying "that's so Danny" several times.  Even under the worst possible circumstances, he was still bringing a smile to our faces.  

 

Danny was a hero and we are all better for knowing him.  He took a journey that most of us cannot imagine, as most heroes do and he fought dragons and confronted horrors, as heroes do.  I hope he knew how unique he was.  I hope he knew what a treasure he was and how much we cherish his memory and his sacrifice. 

At his calling hours, Kathy, asked us to never forget Danny.  I think about him often, but on Veterans Day, I wanted to devote a little time and a little space to one of many true American heroes.

Thank you Danny and all of those who have and who are serving.