What would you call an elderly man who stayed awake night after night to protect his family--children, wife, and mother--while they slept in dangerous quarters?
What about a young single woman--or man--taking on the responsibility of raising three or four small nieces, nephews, or cousins because their parents were lost?
Or the woman caring both for teenagers and a confused mother while her older children served as police in New Orleans and soldiers in Iraq?
I'd call them heroes, them and the more than thirty other survivors of Hurricane Katrina whom I've met during my last month as a volunteer relief worker. Over and over their stories of bravery, resiliency, and determination humbled me. These are the kind of people who have made this country great. Real quotes from real people: From a "sandwiched" single mother, caring for both parents and children: "We've started over with nothing before. We can do it again."
From a young woman who'd just received an aid debit card, the only money she had in the world: "Could I use this to help my sister pay her bills? She took us in, you know."
From a young mother to her daughter: "Just take one book, honey. Lots of children need new books."
From a shelter resident: "People are so nice here, it's scary."
From a south Louisiana policeman: "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for everything you're doing." I grabbed his hand and said, "Thank you for everything you've done," but he didn't hear me. He just kept muttering. I'll never forget his eyes, still staring at horrible things. The same things that the former night guards still see in their nightmares.
Soon after 9/11, all associated with the tragedy were called "heroes." I haven't heard the term used once for Katrina survivors, and it's about time. Families clung together, inching their way across the states a few gallons of gas at a time, saving the elderly, the infirm, the pets. Those who stayed--almost half of who were physically unable to leave or caring for someone who was--believed they'd abandoned by the government and the rest of the country. Still, they struggled through the waters. Many of these families were fractured apart, often by rescue efforts. They soldier on in a grim quest for reunion.
Maybe there are others who were greedy, lazy, and ungrateful, but I haven't met them in my month's tenure.
I am privileged to do whatever I can to help them rebuild their lives. I don't know that I could respond as they have. I hope I never have to.