My mother, who raised four kids pretty much alone after their father died when the oldest was five and the youngest three months.

Every other person who does what needs to be done so that their kids grow up to be decent adults, putting their own wants on hold while they raise 'em up. Every schoolteacher who cares about his or her students. Every cop who scares the bejesus out of a kid instead of running them in because they want to give the kid a decent chance. Every firefighter. Every soldier who gives a kid a treat, even when that kid's brother or father is going to try to shoot the soldier later. Every nurse, every doctor, every EMT who tries like hell to save someone or even just to soothe a scared kid with a nasty cough or cut. Everyone who reads for Talking Books. The guy who takes a chance and gives a street kid a responsible job.

I could go on, but I won't. You get my idea of heroism.