In May, the Westerville Sunrise Rotary’s Field of Heroes celebrated its sixth year as central Ohio’s Memorial Day weekend tradition.
At the opening ceremony, Mackensi Crenshaw, a junior at Westerville South High School, shared her thoughts on heroism. Her words so touched the crowd, she received a standing ovation after her comments.
As we celebrate our nation’s independence, please take a moment to reflect on Mackseni’s wisdom and perspective on who our heroes are and who they can be. Congratulations to Mackensi, who no doubt has a very bright future ahead of her. Mackensi is pictured here with her grandfather, the subject of her speech.
–Mayor Diane Fosselman
It’s an extreme honor to be here at Westerville’s Field of Heroes and in the presence of the very people who make this community and country great.
As a child, “heroes” refer to characters like Superman and Spider-Man, Iron Man and the Hulk. As children, we like that these men and women can save entire cities by using their powers. The innately human need to help others is shown in
children’s admiration of heroes, and so we all want to have powers that make us more than human. This idea is so pushed upon us that we believe that we need powers to help others. This idea stays with us throughout our lives. We write books about wizards, we make movies about super spies and soldiers, watch television shows about spacemen and magnificent ships, and idolize the men of history. Almost always, the protagonists of these stories want to save something or someone or better society. And it’s by watching these shows we seem to fulfill this need in some weird way. We believe that one can only be a hero if they have super speed, the Starship Enterprise and magic spells.
So when I started to learn about my grandfather’s past, I was surprised to realize that he was a hero in his own right. Lt. John Farley is a comical but quiet man who proclaims that Forrest Gump is his hero. He goes on 10-mile walks and reads for at least half of the day. He makes tables and boxes and has a workshop in the basement. He seemed normal; he certainly wasn’t Batman and he certainly doesn’t have a spaceship in the garage.
I knew that he had attended the Military College of South Carolina – or, as most of us would know it, the Citadel. Yet I was only somewhat aware of what that meant. By going to the Citadel, he was pursuing a career in the military. My grandfather never seemed patriotic, though I realize now he always had an immense love for this country and its ideals. He enlisted in the Army in 1962, during the early years of the Vietnam War. We learn in history class that many avoided the draft and dreaded the war, yet my grandfather enlisted voluntarily. He wanted to serve and protect this country, its citizens and its freedoms. He was never sent to battle, yet he was on the receiving end of its horrors. He lost many friends and classmates – too many funerals for a man who hadn’t seen his 25th birthday. Yet he stayed, even after the ending of his active duty, staying in the reserves. Persevering through a divided country, and a neverending war.
He was honorably discharged in 1968 and he went on to a normal day job: a plumber. Yes, the Citadel graduate, veteran and lieutenant became your everyday plumber. Yet even this career choice reflects his greatest attribute: compassion. My grandfather did work in people’s homes, but he also helped his own community of Toledo. He helped to do plumbing for the Toledo Zoo, churches, schools and other public buildings, creating places that give. Though he retired over 10 years ago, he still does jobs for people all over the city. And oftentimes, he doesn’t ask for pay, because I think he sincerely enjoys fixing toilets for hours on end.
But in reality, I think it’s because he is content with the gratitude he is given.
But maybe the most impressive, he raised four children and sent them through school. Which is, arguably, the most difficult of tasks. He is watching my cousins and I grow, teaching us everything that we don’t learn in school. He gives us lessons in modesty, in human interaction and in making others smile. He teaches us the importance of understanding history, not just dates and people, but in the evolution of a culture and society. He tells us the importance of respect and how to build with your hands and that getting your hands dirty is OK. Giving all of us tools that will allow us to leave a mark on the world. Teaching us what he uses in order to help those around him, in hopes that we might help others, too.
My grandfather’s life, actions and service taught me that this world is a comic book, and all around us are superhumans hiding under clothes.
That capes and masks can be a camouflage uniform.
That spaceships can be fire trucks and police cars and ambulances.
That the Avengers can be a group of dedicated educators.
That spy gadgets are no better than dedication and compassion.
That the only supervillain in this world is ignorance and dishonesty.
And that a big heart is the best spell of them all.
And if this is true, we are in the presence of some the greatest men and women on this planet.
You are the men and women who allow me to stand here today and read a speech I wrote myself.
To stand without bullets flying over my head and without slurs being thrown in my face.
To stand and be alive and breathe and salute the flag of a country I don’t think we say we love enough.
You all, like my grandfather, are the Captain Americas of not only this country, but this world.
And the only power you needed was a love for others.
