A Tribute To A Homeless Hero
Beyond The View of Homelessness
"Just because I appear different than most; it does not mean my heart is not in the same place."
A man society failed: A humble hero to a child in the street.
This tribute page is in honor of a homeless man who made a big difference in the lives of a small child, who wandered into traffic, and her parents.
I was on duty as a security guard in a very busy building on one of the busiest streets in the city.
On this particular afternoon, a homeless man came in the front doors with a small child. He appeared shaken.
He explained to me: "I was walking down the sidewalk and saw this young girl head out into the traffic on the street. There was nobody else around. I rushed and got her, just before she got hit by any of the cars or the bus."
He said, "I brought her to you because I know you can help find her parents."
I was not sure, but he had faith in me.
Knowing he was homeless, I offered to give him some money for his heroic actions.
He declined, saying, "I just did what needed to be done."
He reiterated, "I know you can find her parents."
As it turned out, her parents were in the building taking care of their business. When they saw their little one with me, and I told them I was about to contact someone to locate them, they were furious with the child for leaving the car where they had left her alone, sleeping.
I explained that a homeless man had kept her from being seriously hurt. He caught her just as she was about to step in front of the cars. I reminded them that children do not have the way of knowing what is right or wrong. She was alone and probably went to look for them.
This tribute is not about the parents. It is about how a homeless man put himself in danger to protect not only the child but the family from unbearable grief.
Perhaps it is time to view all people as equal, not by their status in society, their origins, faith, or anything else.