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Kindness Champions
On New Year’s Day 2021, a server named Flaviane Cavalho was working at a restaurant in Orlando and noticed a family dining together: two adults and two children. One child, a young girl, seemed happy and engaged. The other, a somewhat older boy, sat apart in silence. Looking more closely, Cavalho noticed bruising and other signs of injury and distress. Trusting her instincts that something was wrong, she made a sign that said, “ARE YOU OK?” and held it where only the boy could see it. A small head motion followed. Then, “DO YOU NEED HELP?”, which produced a brief nod. This engagement started a chain reaction involving the restaurant owner, an engaged 911 dispatcher, a caring police officer, and a specialist in child trauma. Each adult in turn made decisions that could have been inconvenient or even costly to them for the sake of wanting to help a child in need. It turned out that the boy had been savagely beaten and abused by his stepfather who later received a life sentence for his crimes. According to authorities, the sequence of events set in motion by the server’s kindness likely saved the boy’s life.
Moral of the story: even during a routine day at work, a considerate attitude, others-focused perspective, and caring action can produce life-saving results.
Moral of the story: even during a routine day at work, a considerate attitude, others-focused perspective, and caring action can produce life-saving results.
People Helpers
Eric Montross was larger-than-life in every way. A seven-foot basketball star with an NCAA championship at UNC and a long career in the NBA, he then served in broadcasting as the radio voice of his beloved Tar Heels. Cancer took him far too early in 2023 at age 52 and left behind a grief-stricken family, friends, and community in Chapel Hill, NC. People who knew him speak not of his sporting accomplishments but of his abiding commitment to helping others. He and his wife Laura raised money for UNC Children’s Hospital and other causes, but they shared time, talent, and ties far beyond treasure. For example, they visited with sick kids and their families countless times and never called attention to themselves. In turn, Montross inspired others to act with the quiet compassion that he brought to his service. He lived by a teaching from his former coach, Dean Smith: “You should never be proud of doing the right thing. You should just do the right thing.” One friend described him as “Superman,” not in basketball, but in relationships and in helping others. He will be missed greatly, but his legacy will live on in all of the lives he touched.
Moral of the story: eulogy virtues are much more important than resume virtues.
Moral of the story: eulogy virtues are much more important than resume virtues.
Problem Solvers
After retiring from the Air Force in 1998, Earl Morse was hired by the Department of Veterans Affairs to work in a small clinic in Springfield, Ohio as a physician’s assistant. In May of 2004, the World War II Memorial was finally completed and dedicated in Washington, D.C. and quickly became the topic of discussion among his World War II veteran patients. Earl repeatedly asked these veterans if they would ever travel out to visit THEIR memorial. Most felt that eventually, somehow, they would make it to D.C., perhaps with a family member or friend. As summer turned to fall and then winter, these same veterans returned to the clinic for their follow-up visits. Earl asked if they accomplished their dream of visiting the World War II Memorial. By then, for most of the veterans he asked, reality had settled in: it simply wasn’t financially or physically possible for them to make the journey. Most of these senior heroes were in their 80s and lacked the physical and mental wherewithal to complete a trip on their own. (Here is where it gets good.) In addition to being a physician’s assistant, Earl was also a private pilot and a member of one of our nation’s largest aero clubs located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. In December of 2004, Earl asked one of his World War II veteran patients if it would be all right if Earl personally flew him out to D.C., free of charge, to visit his memorial. The man broke down and cried. He told Earl that at his age he would probably never get to see his memorial otherwise, and gratefully accepted the offer. Honor Flight was born! The mission statement: transport America’s veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit those memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices. The goal: to help every single veteran in America, willing and able to get on a plane or a bus, visit THEIR memorial. The priority: top priority is given to America’s most senior heroes — survivors of World War II and any veteran with a terminal illness who wishes to visit THEIR memorial. The program will transition to the Korean War, Vietnam War, and all other veterans who served, on a chronological basis. They have an awesome website, www.honorflight.org that includes all schedules, transport hubs, FAQs, application processes, etc.
Moral of the story: sacrificial service as provided by the Greatest Generation and our other military veterans deserves gratitude of matching magnitude.
Moral of the story: sacrificial service as provided by the Greatest Generation and our other military veterans deserves gratitude of matching magnitude.