By Nicholas Zillas
When I was a little boy I had heroes like everyone else. In the movies it was Tom Mix, Buck Jones and Flash Gordon. I know that some of the young people who read this will not remember these movie stars, but your grandparents will.
In sports it was Babe Ruth and later on, Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle. Now as I look back and really think about it, there is only one hero who should be on that list; that person is my mom.
My father passed away when I was 7 years old and my mom took care of me. I was the only young one in my family. I quit high school in my first year without receiving a diploma, and tried to help my mom by going to work. When it came time for me to serve our country in World War II, my mom could have told me to claim a dependent status, meaning I had to stay and support her
But she said it was right that I should serve our country. She was left by herself when I went into the Army. I know there were many others like me and I will say to them on Mother's Day, Lets all say “Thanks Mom, you are my hero.”
There are many young men and women who still have their moms to give cards and gifts to on Mother's Day. When you do, give your gifts to her and you hug and kiss her.
Please also tell her that she is your hero. I cannot do that for my mother. However I am sure she knows how I feel about her even though I never told her when I had the chance to do so.
And if you want to give her a second kiss for people like me and others who do not have their moms today, I will say Thank You from the bottom of my heart.
My mom did not just stop at me. She also did this with my own four children. My mom would receive her Social Security check – about $300 – and that check would be gone after one week. She spent almost all of it on my four children.
So you see, she was also a hero to my children. If you are lucky enough to have a grandmother, also give her a kiss and a hug on Mother's Day.
Remember, no one in this world will ever take the place of your Mom.
She truly is the greatest one.
