A hero is one who exhibits an exceptional amount of courage and fortitude. Of course, when you think of a person who has these qualities, a firefighter comes to mind. If you think deeper and really explore the definition of a hero, my father comes to mind. He is my example of a true hero.
Besides his career of fighting fires in Manhattan, his other job is what I really recognized his heroism as. That job is of the highest honor. It is being a father. Throughout my life, I knew I was lucky. My father was not only there to watch me grow into a young lady, but was also there to teach me how.
From as young as I can remember, my father was my role model. He made me breakfast before school, took me to the bus stop and waited for me until I got home. He tried to help me with my homework, but I soon realized my mother was better at that. Instead, my father taught me to play baseball, swim and especially ride a two-wheel bike. He used to run alongside my bike to catch me in case I fell, but besides that, he taught me to play soccer and even coached my teams until I was thirteen years old. He always wanted to be involved in my life, and also in my brother, Michael's. No matter what we needed him for, he was always willing to help with a big smile on his face. His commitment and his desire to help was unyielding. If there was a will, my father found the way.
It is hard to describe my father in words. He seemed more like a brother than a father. No matter what we were doing, he always wanted to have a good time. Whether it was playing tag in The Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., sticking food up his nose at a restaurant or our infamous sock fights, everything with my father was a big joke. Whenever he was around, I couldn't hide the smile on my face.
My father is my inspiration. Now, more than ever, is he truly my hero. On September 11th, when my father sacrificed his life to save thousands of others, I saw how remarkable my father really was. Until that day, fire fighting was just his day job and I always knew that I would see him when his shift was over. Today, though I know I will see my father immortalized as a national hero, and I am so proud of that.
My father is my hero. He has taught me so much about myself, but I never realized how much of my father's qualities I had in me, until now. I wish my father could be here today so I can tell him how thankful I am for everything he has taught me so far in life, but I am sure he already knows. I'm sure he knows also, how proud I am of him for being a great firefighter, husband but especially father. The one thing I want him to know, though, is how much I truly love him and how much I'm going to miss him. My father is a hero to the whole world, but I'm so lucky that he is also my father. I love you dad.
Tara Feinberg
Daughter of Alan Feinberg
Eulogy