Everyday Heroes

It's the crossing guard at the school, who smiles and greets you warmly. It's the soldier serving while far away from their family. It's the teacher who works long into the night grading papers. It's the nurse who sits bedside for their patient a few minutes longer just so they know someone is there.

We're surrounded every day by everyday heroes.

While there are more people I could write about than there are fish in the sea, today the everyday hero I want to recognize is my very own brother.

Some know him as Mr. Herberg, some know him as Coach Herberg, some know him as Dad. I know him as James. Younger than me by two years, he's a teacher, a football head coach, a husband, a father of three. On Friday, I watched on my TV from 1,300 miles away as he led his football team to a state championship title. It was an intense game, showcasing the fine skills of a team of young men. Some may scoff that it's just a football game. How does that make him an everyday hero? But this was far more than just a football game, and he was far more than a football coach. He was a role model, he was someone those boys put their trust in. He made a commitment to that team, and in turn, that team made a commitment to him. He cultivated confidence, discipline, and respect while refining individual skillsets for both on and off the field. He taught more than a game, he taught life lessons, and those young men are all better off because of what he instilled in each of them.

The Spartans won that football game in overtime on a 2-point conversion. Final score 22-21 against an undefeated and reigning champion team. Down by one, I literally held my breath as I watched their final play unfold - it came down to one chance: to lose by 1 or to win by 1. And the elation in my house when they scored was palpable. It was an epic power play. As I watched my brother sprint across that field in excitement, I was filled with joy and my heart swelled with pride in him for all that he worked for and all that he accomplished. That night, those boys, their coaching staff, and James were all heroes. Every single one of them felt the power of victory, of the culmination of all their hard work paying off. What they experienced they will carry with them. What they learned throughout the season, by both winning and losing, will shape and mold them into the people they are tomorrow. And James had absolutely everything to do with that.


I congratulate you, the ROCORI Spartans, on all your hard work and your victory. And I congratulate you, James Herberg, for being such a pivotal and integral person in the lives of all those young men. They will forever take a part of you wherever they go in life. You are undoubtedly, and in every way, an everyday hero.