I know this topic has been posted before (last summer I believe), but a news story I read in today's Richmond Times-Dispatch has me posting again. 

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137834527573

In a nut shell, two high school kids were killed and two were seriously hurt in a car accident a few weeks ago here in Richmond.  A fellow student came up with the idea for T-shirts with the word "Hero" on them in remembrance of them.

ARGH!!!!!  They are NOT heroes.

2 of the victims were 14 years old, 2 were 15.  And before you ask, yes, the driving age here in Virginia is 16.  The kids stole their parents keys, snuck out the house, went for a joyride, and got into a car accident.  Is it sad???  Yes, but should anyone be surprised that they got into an accident???  What makes them a hero???

A friend of mine described a hero as doing something they normally wouldn't do.  If there was a fire at your neighbor's house and you went in to save someone trapped inside, you're a hero.  You went above and beyond.  And you're not a fireman. 

Simply dying does not make you a hero.