Loss of heroes passes their work to others

The loss of two heroes hit hard last week. Hundreds gathered in Iowa City on Jan. 30 to commemorate the life of our local hero, Peggy Stokes, who died on Jan. 9. The Jan. 27 death of Howard Zinn, our national and international hero, shocked and saddened hundreds of thousands.

Stokes and Zinn didn't know each other, but they were a lot alike. Both would be saying that there is too much living and work to do to spend much energy mourning.

Stokes took loving care of her family and spent 23 years at the University of Iowa Pediatric Center for Disabilities and Development helping innumerable families and children. For the last five years, she led a peace vigil every Friday at the Pentacrest.

Zinn, a B-17 bombardier in World War II, was beaten and arrested in the 1960s and 1970s protesting for civil rights and against the Vietnam War. He wrote “A People's History of the United States” and never stopped applauding the heroism of everyday citizens (such as Stokes).

They were both rather audacious and not easily embarrassed because they acted out of a deep affection for others and an unshakable commitment to peace.

They did everything possible to inspire us, and it is now up to us to take up their sweet burden.

Ed Flaherty

Iowa City