Give due recognition

We can understand why Oberlin police officer and firefighter Steve Chapman was hesitant to be interviewed after helping to rescue a woman from drowning.

Chapman was conducting personal business in Elyria on his day off last week when he witnessed a woman jump off a bridge into the Black River. Knowing Chapman, it was probably instinct that caused him to stop his vehicle, go down the steep river bank into the river, and pull the woman to the edge of the river.

But for his training in water rescue, what he did should not be considered unusual. We're sure Chapman was not looking for recognition when he acted; he just did what needed to be done, as we all would hope someone would do for our loved ones in such a situation.

But in the news business we like to highlight acts of heroism, both to give recognition to heroes, like Chapman, and to spur others to do the same.

In the same vein, Oberlin, along with communities across the country, will celebrate Memorial Day on Monday with ceremonies at cemeteries, city halls, and memorial parks. The names of those from Oberlin who have given their lives in defense of our country will be read as those who fought beside them pay their respects.

We're sure most of these war dead would be chagrined to be told prior to their deaths they would be thus honored. Though they might have known in the backs of their minds their hometowns hold such festivities, they took no thought of it as they did what was expected of them.

Those who died and those who survived stood as a wall against the forces opposed to our way of life. They did what we would expect all of us to do in one way or another to guard the freedoms we cherish.

We wouldn't expect to raise a monument to every civil libertarian or voter, who in their own way guard our freedoms. But those who have given that last full measure of devotion deserve the recognition.