My Hero At Home

When someone talks about heroes today they are usually referring to a soldier or a fireman.  While I agree that soldiers and firemen are heroes, I do not understand why my generation refuses to hold policemen in the same regard.  A policeman will charge head first into a battle and is willing to lay down his life for the man fighting next to him.  Unlike a soldier, a policeman does not have an army behind him. A policeman will run into a burning building to rescue someone he has never met.  Unlike a fireman, a policeman does not have the gear to protect him from a fire.  A policeman is expected is expected to show no fear and be infallible.  A policeman will run towards gun fire when everyone else is running away.  A policeman is always encountering people when they are at their worst, yet we expect them to constantly remain compassionate.  No one ever tells a policeman "thank you" or "glad to see you."  A policeman stands watch every night, witnessing the worst examples of our society, and then goes home and behaves like every other dad, because that is what he has to do.  I know these things because my dad is a police officer.  I see him everyday, and everyday he gives me a kiss, a smile, and then ask me how my day was.  He never complains about his job and he never talks about the horrible things he witnessed the night before.  I only know because is see it on the news or read it in the paper.  We never talk about it but I know.  My dad is my hero and I swell with pride every time I see him in his uniform.  My dad is my hero and I worry about him every time he leaves in that same uniform.