I was eating dinner in my recliner and watching the television news when I saw this strange, almost comical looking woman.

I decided to change the channel but my remote stopped working so I was forced to watch the news segment.

Within minutes, tears filled my eyes when I realized the woman they were reporting on was an honest to goodness hero.

I had never heard of Irena Sendler — a woman who saved the lives of 2,500 children who were scheduled to be killed by the Nazis during World War II. She had both her legs and feet broken by soldiers while trying to save the lives of children.

As thousands were being killed, the children of total strangers were given false identities and placed in homes, orphanages and convents. Irena Sendler carefully noted, in coded form, the original names of the children and their new identities. She kept the only record of their true identities in jars buried beneath an apple tree in a neighbor’s backyard, across the street from German barracks, hoping she could someday dig up the jars, locate the children and inform them of their past and true identities.

In all, the jars contained the names of 2,500 children.

Are there any Irenas or Schindlers left among us today?

Is that funny and sort of weird looking character down at the local super market or the gas station the one who might save our children should such a terrible occasion arise in the future? As of today, I will do my best to try and treat others with a little more dignity and respect. I now realize that it might be the pimple faced kid working at McDonald’s or the over-weight individual at the dry cleaners who might have the heart, guts and unselfish compassion to save my offspring one day.

All I can say is that there are only a few true heroes and I thank them.

The jar has been found, the lid has been removed, and the lesson has been found.

Roger Dean Kiser trampolineone@earthlink.net