Every day Heroes

My pupils and I were given the opportunity to learn a beautiful song. A close friend of mine, Mr. Bernard Percy, an educational consultant sent it to me in the email. The song is "Everyday Heroes", honoring those who were helping at the twin towers in New York and Ground Zero on September 11th. His wife Caralyn Percy is the singer. She sings this powerful song in a documentary called” Answering the Call". It moved the children and me in a special way. We were able to relate to every day heroes in Israel too.

We warmly thank Bernard and Caralyn for allowing us to learn through this beautiful and meaningful song. Our greatest hope is for your success and happiness. We hope the documentary comes to Israel so we may watch it together in class!

Marsha and the 6th graders of Ein Ganim Israel

Here are the lyrics to the song:

Everyday Hero –

 

Sung by Caralyn Percy
Written by: (Geoff Levin, Harriet Schock, Alena, and Van Johnson)

Click on the "listen to song" button on the picture to hear it sung.

Used with permission may not be duplicated.

Down to earth angel everyday hero
You walk the wake of disaster
Pitch your tents at ground zero

When I was forced to face the unfaceable
No hope in sight

When I had lost the irreplaceable
And day turned to night
I didn’t know you by name
But here you came

Down to earth angel everyday hero
You walk the wake of disaster
Pitch your tents at ground zero

You volunteered to give up your heart and soul
To a stranger like me
Out of your home to tame the harsh unknown
And change my destiny

Bright amber like a star
Here you are

Down to earth angel everyday hero
You walk the wake of disaster
Pitch your tents at ground zero 

When we were forced to face the unfaceable
No hope in sight
When we had lost the irreplaceable
And day turned to night

We didn’t know you by name
But here you came

BRIDGE:

Sometimes the face of a loved one
Isn’t a face we’ve ever seen
And yet sometimes such kindness
Can mean everything

Modulate:    REPEAT 3 TIMES
Down to earth angel everyday hero
You walked the wake of disaster              
Pitch your tents at ground zero

The sixth grade class at Ein Ganim had a wonderful experience learning this song and about every day heroes who risk their own lives simply because they care about the well-being of others. Here is the feedback by the 6th grade kids.

Everyday Hero

I think the song is beautiful and I like the singer too, but it is very sad, to think of all the people who die, and people that have never been there at all (that include me), can’t be there anymore.

I feel terrible about it. I think all the people that help are heroes (especially the volunteers), and they saved a lot of people. We should salute them.

Osama Ben Laden is terrible man, and I think, if they catch him finally, we may get closer to world peace.

Ofir Kt

I like the song everyday hero. When I listened to the song I was very excited. I also like the singer because she has a very good voice. I think the volunteers, the firemen and the policemen are heroes because they want to save other people so much and a lot of them died too. 

Tomer

I liked the song very much and it excited me very much, too. I felt sad because it's very sad that people died because of the terrorists of Hosama Bin Laden and I don't understand why they did it. I liked the single very much, too. I think the volunteers, the firemen and the police are heroes because they risked their lives to save others.

Harel

Today at school we learned the song of Everyday hero. This song is very beautiful. This song is sad also. I loved this song very much And it did something inside me, It made me have another feeling about what happened to the twin buildings, And today nothing left only- ground zero.

Sagi

I like the song. I feel very sad because of the disaster of twin towers. I like the singer and I think she sings beautiful. I think volunteers, firemen and the police are heroes because they help people and sometimes save life.

Paz

I liked the song; it was very exciting and deep. I felt very concentrated in the words and the music of the song. Caralyn Percy has a wonderful voice and she sang the song very nicely. I think the volunteers, firemen and the policemen are real heroes for who they saved, there were people that were hurt in the place and almost died but one man saved their life and now they thank him every year on the Sept.11th.

Ori

Everyday Hero

The song made me very sad. I really like the song but it is so sad. It is truly beautiful.

Yes I like the singer, she's amazing.

I think that all the people that helped are heroes. Because they helped  people that they did even not know.

Aviv

1. Did you like the song?

Yes, I liked it very much.

2. How did you feel?

It touched my heart, it was very good song.

3. Did you like the singer?

Yes, she is a very good singer.

4. Do you think the volunteer fireman and policeman are heroes? Why?

Yes, I do think the volunteer fireman and policeman are heroes, because they helped when other people needed help, and they risked their life for helping other people. Ofir KZ

Now I want to speak with you about the song: Yes, I love the song it was very beautiful song. I feel very sad about all the people that died.
The singer has a beautiful voice. I think anyone who helps is a big hero because he risks his life to save a stranger’s life. I hope that disaster won’t repeat itself.

Nimrod

I like the song about twin towers.

The singer is amazing.

It's very sad to remember the terrorist attack  in the 11.9.01

And I hate Bin laden.

Roei

 I like the song. I feel sad and little excited…

Yes, I like the singer.

Yes, because they help people without payment / or praise.

Shay

The song is beautiful. I like it'. The song is very exciting! It's touching. The singer is singing very professional. She sings amazing.

The volunteers –the firemen and the policemen are heroes. Because they went to help people, but they were only, volunteers.

Enav

I really like the song "Everyday hero". I felt sad about the twin buildings, the people who lost their life, and their families. They are so pour, because they lost a person that they loved, because an unjustified reason. I like the singer's voice; it is very deep, and full of meaning.

I do think that the firemen and policemen, and mostly the volunteers are heroes. And I think that sometimes a face of a loved one isn't a face we've ever seen, like the song says. “Somebody who gave his heart and soul to save your life”.

Love,
Noa

I like the song "Every day hero" because it's a beautiful song and I think it's beautiful. It is true; I  had a shiver when I heard the song.

I think the policemen, and the firemen, and the volunteers are heroes because they saved and their lives and did a good thing for mankind everyone.

See you next time,
Itamar

It is Dana. I like the song. The song is beautiful and exciting.

I love the singer because she is very talented. I think the volunteers, the firemen and the policemen are heroes because they help the people, and sometime they die. I am very enthusiastic from the song It's makes my feel just like I have been there.

Caralyn Percy is a wonderful singer; she sings like an angel.

I think the volunteers are the biggest hero. They got into the crushed buildings and to the flames to save people that they didn’t recognize or ever knew beforehand. I like the subject and the way that the singer makes us know about it. I hope that Caralyn will be happy because she did a holy work.

Daniel

I like the song very much. Every time I hear the song I think of the September 11th, This is a very terrible disaster. I like the voice of Caralyn Percy. I think that the volunteers, the policemen and the firemen are heroes, because they save people's life any day. Guy

I like the song.

The song makes me feel sad, and it touches my heart.

I like the singer because she has a special voice, and she excites me very much.

I think that the volunteers, the firemen, and the police are heroes, because they went to save people without thinking twice. Hen

  • Did you like the song?
    Yes, I like the song.
  • How did you feel?
    I was excited. The song was sad, but beautiful.
  • Did you like the singer?
    Yes, I like the singer, she sings beautiful.
Do you think the volunteers, the firemen and the policemen are heroes, why?
I think that the volunteers, the firemen and the policemen are heroes, because it’s a very brave and heroic thing to do- to go there and risk your life for a stranger. By Irad

Hi Marsha!
I really like the song, and I'm feeling very sad about the twin buildings.
I think that Caralyn Percy sings very good and pretty.
I think that the volunteers, the firemen and the policemen are the true heroes because they rescued their life to save other pepole's life.
Bye,
Omer.

I think the song is very exciting, and when we listened to this song I felt emotional and identified with the Americans, and I felt the pain of them.
Yes, I think the volunteers, the firemen, and the policemen are heroes, and they are emazing people, and I am proud because they are existing.
I think the singer has an amazing voice and she excited me when we listened to her song. I think she has a beautiful and rare voice.
I think the song is amazing and I like it very much.
Yasmine

I was very touched by the song every day heroes. The song is very sad and with deep feelings. I felt that the singer sang it from her heart.
Michal

I like this song very much, I think that song is very exciting, I think that the singer has a wonderful voice, and I think that the volunteers, policemen and the firemen are evrey day hero.

By: Snir Z.

Dear Marsha and my beautiful Israeli brothers and sisters;

It's me, Caralyn, (the songbird) responding from Bernard's email address.

Your honest words, feelings and thoughts touched me all the way across the ocean and here in Los Angeles.

I was one of the very fortunate Volunteers who went into Ground Zero in New York City to help assist the policemen and firemen working to change a horrific situation into some semblance of order over the many many months.

I was personally only in NYC for a few days but I saw hundreds of color pictures of loved ones plastered on walls around the city. My heart was deeply deeply touched by these photos.

I was born and raised in New York City but was living in Boston at the time of the attacks. Besides volunteering there, singing this song was and is my gift to those who help their fellow man for no other reason than it is the right thing to do when help is needed.

Much Love,
Caralyn Percy

Dear Marsha, Caralyn, Janet and Geoff,

Thank you for sending me this lovely email. It was an honor to write this for the picture and Geoff and I are very glad it is being used again in such a meaningful way.

All the best,
Harriet Schock