Heros of 2009

It is the time of year that everyone starts reflecting on their family and friends more than ever and what they are thankful for. A lot of us our answer is our the people in our lives and some have had such a rough year they think for awhile and say it’s hard to find something to be thankful for. I would say that they still have plenty to be thankful for if nothing else for life. I was watching Oprah the other day and she has teamed up with People magazine and has recognized the heroes of 2009. Compared to what some of them have been through I have nothing to complain about.

Oprah definitely started the show out with probably the most miraculous thing that happened this year and that was the plane that crashed on the Hudson River or also known as ‘The Miracle on the Hudson’. It truly was that too because for an airbus that had lost both of its engines to crash in a river and not only have everyone survive the initial crash but also make it out of the freezing cold water as well. She had only a fraction of the first responders on stage including the ferry boat driver, firefighters, police men and women; she also had Capt. Sully who is the one that safely landed the plane on the Hudson along with the divers that were in the water helping to get each passenger to safety. I think the most emotional thing that was on the show was having a passenger reunited with the diver that had pulled her out of the water. She never got to meet or thank him and was very emotional when she finally did. There were also some of the plane crash survivors in the audience and for a few of them it was their first time being on an airplane since the crash. Gosh, how nerve racking that would have been?

Another very touching story was about two high school cheerleaders both named Sara. They were touched so much by volunteering during the Special Olympics that they wanted to incorporate the special needs kids they met into their everyday lives. ‘The Sara’s’ as people call them, are cheerleaders and cheer for the Spartans. They started a cheer program for the young girls that have special needs or learning disabilities and they are called the Sparkles. They have matching uniforms with the Spartans and attend their daily cheer practices. They even get to go to cheer competitions and stand right there alongside the Spartans when they cheer on the football team. They had a few of the parents of the Sparkle cheerleaders and they stood up and wanted to thank the Sara’s for changing their daughter’s lives for the better. They said they are doing so much better in school and now have more confidence than ever.

Another huge part of her show recognizing heroes was the part where she recognized our American Soldiers. She had a video feed from a base in North Carolina where a group of soldiers was just coming home from Iraq. Some soldiers were meeting their baby sons and daughters for the first time. I can’t imagine not being around your family when you have a newborn and missing out on everything they do and learn. Like their first words, and first steps, and even their first teeth. I can guarantee you that those families are probably having the best Thanksgiving yet. Wynona Judd was there to sing and welcome the troop’s home and to celebrate what a true Thanksgiving was.