Hero

The streets were lined with onlookers as far as his eyes could see, which, to be fair, wasn’t that far anymore. His ears still worked relatively fine, however, and the sound of music and fanfare filled the air. The crowd politely clapped and cheered as he made his way down the usually busy Main Street. Parents held their children above their heads so they could get a better view. Old men and women sat in their lawn chairs on the small patches of grass between sidewalk and street. He donned a smile and waved his hand, careful to balance his time to the left and right, making sure he didn’t leave anyone out.

He had no clue what they were cheering for, or why he was there, but he played the part he thought he should.

The smell of popping corn and freshly spun sugar was getting stronger as he continued his trek. He was following a group of children carrying a long banner, skipping and hopping their way down the street, enjoying the energy of the crowd. There was an intense sun that morning, and the thick woolen jacket he was wearing was roasting him like a Christmas turkey. A glare from the medals on his chest caught his face and forehead with every few steps. He wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his unwaving hand and dried it on the side of his pants.

“Thank you! Thank you for everything!” The cheers were getting louder and clearer as he grew closer to the end of the march. He nodded and kept waving. He wasn’t sure what they should be thankful for, but they all seemed to be happy, so it must have been a good thing. He felt grateful, too.

As he approached the old firehouse building, a young woman wearing a headset and holding a clipboard waved him over. “Thank you,” she whispered, as he made his way by. He climbed the steps of the metal staging and walked over to a row of plastic folding chairs, taking a seat overlooking an even larger crowd than he had passed on the street. A man in a grey suit stood at a podium to his left, smiling as he gestured to the crowd, asking for a moment to speak.

“Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, please join me in welcoming United States Navy Airman, World War II veteran, and this year’s Clocktown Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshall, David Ennis!” A thunderous applause grew. The man in grey turned towards him and clapped. Everyone seated around him stood up and followed suit. “Thank you for your service, sir.”

He tried to get up, but his legs were tired from the long walk, so he stayed seated and clapped for David, thanking him for his service, wherever he was.