I respect anyone who has served in the military for their willingness to take on the job of defending their country, and to put their life into the balance.
However, I feel the term "hero" has been considerably diminished by its current usage. Anyone who has gotten a hangnail in the line of duty is called a hero.
Sometimes people are called upon by the situation or their judgment to do highly unusual things; to carry out acts that go beyond the job they're in, the position they occupy, or their normal responsibilities. I don't think doing your job - even when it's stressful or dangerous - makes you a hero. The careless way the term is used and applied with a broad brush puts me off.
That said, there are heroes - both live and dead, civilian and military, male and female. This is a great day to remember and honor them.
