ANDERSON, Ind. —
Every day starts a new story, and this one tips its hat to a great column that recently appeared in The Herald Bulletin by Jesse Wilkerson where he emphasized the value of choosing one’s words. His premise was that a person who chooses positive words in their general conversation will have a better day than one who spouts about their bad luck. There’s an element of that in how one uses encouragement and handles discouragement.
One of our more colorful interviews was with Marine Sgt. Russell Fuller. Russell and his friend Red were stationed on an almost invisible Pacific outpost called Green Island. They had a landing strip that could handle B-17s, but there wasn’t much more to the place. One day, while Russell and Red were walking the beach, a PBY crashed on the shore. The plane erupted into flames and the ammunition started to explode with men inside. Russell and Red rushed to pull the injured men from the burning wreckage. Their lieutenant heard the explosion and ran to a nearby hillside to direct his men. He was shouting and pointing to no avail as Russell and Red were focused on the plane and couldn’t hear him over the explosions. A few days later, their captain decided there should be a medal ceremony to recognize the rescuers’ bravery. In Russell’s words, “Guess who got the medal — the lieutenant.”
Russell didn’t let this lack of recognition ruin his life. He had seen true discouragement first-hand when it broke his father’s spirit as he lost the farm in the Great Depression.
I admire those who suffer blow after blow and continue to rise and press on. These are acts of courage that rarely receive a medal. They know the value of true encouragement but are not dependent upon it. Look at celebrities whose lives are ruined by false sycophantic adulation.
Encouragement by itself ranks low as a “need” against air, water, shelter, etc., but it can be a light in the darkness when given and received properly. When I wrote my novels I liked them, but they had no real value till I received the heartfelt encouragement of my readers.
Almost every week someone will say how much they like this column. My first inclination is to remember the words of coach Phil Buck, “Don’t get the big head.” The true worth of this column is in how it connects our community to values that really matter. When I was leaving the Author’s Fair at the Anderson Library I met a gentleman who thanked me for the column. It had become a connection to his father who had served our country. That meant a lot to me.
What if we gave more encouragement to our teens, our poor, our infirmed? How about those 1 percenters who risk their wealth to create jobs only to be vilified, or people who step forward for public service and face constant ridicule? Perhaps if we exercised more encouragement we might open our newspapers to better stories.
Don McAllister directs the National Veteran’s Historical Archive. His column appears the second Sunday of each month. He can be reached at nvha01@hotmail.com. Website: www.nvharchive.org
Community
Related Photos
-
Don McAllister
Discussion
Don McAllister: Dovetailing on a great column with a word on encouragement
- Community
-
-
A dream cabin in the woods
Phil Hatter regularly told his children that once they were all grown, he would build a log cabin in the country. They didn’t believe him. “I think log homes are really neat, but they have to be put in the right place,” he said.
-
Jim Bailey: Jim Carter made football a respectable sport at AHS
When I first came to Anderson in 1951, Jim Carter had been named head football coach at Anderson High School. At that time, football at AHS was little more than an activity to get out of the way to make room for basketball season. The Indians were known to play two games in the same week to shorten the season.
-
Community Briefs: May 27
A compilation of community news as published in the Sunday edition of The Herald Bulletin.
-
Remember When: May 27
The slide was one of the more popular attractions at the Falls Park swimming area in Pendleton as evidenced by the number of people waiting their turn on the slide’s steps and its top platform.
-
Champions League makes everyone a winner
The Champions League — in its 12th season — is sponsored by the Pendleton Junior Baseball Association and is open to anyone 5 to 18 with physical and developmental disabilities.
-
History: Lapel Telephone Co. was talk of town
In November 1962, when the Lapel Telephone Co. was sold to United Utilities by the children of founder Earl Tull, a Madison County era ended.
-
Back in the News: May 27
The Herald Bulletin looks back at stories from the Anderson Daily Bulletin and The Anderson Herald newspapers.
-
Howard Hewitt: 'Pink' wines growing in popularity
Those silly looking pink wines in your favorite wine shop or liquor store are gaining respect through robust sales.
-
Nancy Vaughan: Tomorrow starts today
The United Way of Madison County's 2011 annual report seeks to recognize the individuals and organizations that contribute their resources to support investments and activities to increase the education, income and health of all who call Madison County home.
-
Births: May 27
Local birth listings are published each Sunday in The Herald Bulletin. Birth announcements with a photo are available for a fee. Call The Herald Bulletin at 640-4800 for more information.
- More Community Headlines
-
