A Tribute To Daddy

by
Bette Cobb

Bette Cobb is the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Erwin, pictured above with Bette's older brother and sister.

"You should be very proud of your Daddy," said Senator Jim Allen, as I  craned my neck to look up at this tall man. I was about seven or eight years  old and I remember thinking - sure I'm proud of him - he's my Daddy! I was not really impressed by this famous Senator from Alabama's comment when he  was telling me something I already knew.

I grew up the youngest of four children, my sisters and brother were a  lot older than me. So, I got the privilege of spending time one-on-one with  my parents. Mama stayed at home and Daddy would leave every morning at 5  a.m. for work at the Veterans Administration Hospital. We would attend Medal  of Honor events where I would see other brave men and women. This was our normal life - I thought everyone did like my Daddy did. He  would've been special to me whatever he did because he was my Daddy.

My  parents raised me to help others as they did. They never really told me to,  they did it by example. Daddy didn't have to think about picking up the  phosphorous bomb and throwing it out of the airplane. He knew that if he didn't get this dangerous thing out of the airplane they all would die. It  is hard to think of being so unselfish, but those who had been raised like my  parents to help others don't think. They don't think - they do what they can  to help even if it means losing their own lives in the process.

The "me" generation is not the best way to live. We all need to  remember that you should not expect things in return. You should be willing  to help others no matter what you might get in exchange.

Today, I am 35 years old with two children of my own and I also teach  4th grade in an elementary school. I hope I can live up to my parents example of not thinking of myself, but to help others unselfishly. I hope  that the message of the values my Daddy learned and showed through his action  will live on in my children and students. We as adults and parents must show  these values to our children, where else will they learn them? All of our children should think that their parents and the adults around them would do exactly as my Daddy did 54 years ago. These grownups should be seen by  children as doing something like this heroic act because that is what a person is supposed to do.

Yes, my Daddy is special, but isn't yours, too?

Bette Cobb