I went to a benefit event last week for my high school classmate Henry Roe. Henry and I ran in the same circle of friends throughout high school and played together on the football team.

Friends and family gathered at his beautiful little farm in Aubrey, Texas to honor him and his courageous battle with ALS, aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease. I attended a similar event roughly five years ago when Henry was first diagnosed. At that time, he was in and out of his wheelchair and able to speak and breathe freely. Today, his ALS is extremely advanced, but his mind is sharp, and he is able to speak, although laboriously.

When I approached Henry in his wheelchair, he immediately recognized me by saying my last name. I placed my hand on his shoulder and told him that there was no place I’d rather be. I wished I had more to offer.

A cold front blew through that day and Henry was concerned about our eating outside in the wind. He wanted us all to move to the barn where we would be more comfortable.

I found that amazing. He was concerned about us being uncomfortable.

Henry is a USAF veteran and to this day he is still living his best life possible. After his diagnosis, Henry started to write his history through living with ALS. He created a charitable foundation HeRoes 4ALS (heroes4als.world) to help disabled vets and those with ALS the opportunity to take part in fishing and outdoor activities. He even developed specialized fishing gear to assist them.

To say I was amazed at his attitude would be an understatement. Heading home that evening, I noticed a bumper sticker on a car in front of me; it read “POSITIVE and ENCOURAGING.”

I immediately thought of Henry and how that bumper sticker defined him. If there was anyone with something to complain about, I think it would be him.

But that is not who Sgt. Henry Roe is. He is positive and encouraging even though he is suffering unimaginable circumstances.

I had to ask myself, what two words would I choose to define me? I would like to be positive and encouraging as well, but at times I am the opposite with no good reason to be so. An even tougher question might be asking family and friends which two words they think define me. I may not like what I hear.

Being positive and encouraging when things are going your way is not difficult. Maintaining that attitude is much more challenging when things around you begin to fall apart. That is the truest test of character.

In his short speech, Henry shared how 9/11 affected him. He said he identified with the people trapped on top of the World Trade Center and the decision they had to make. Either be burnt alive – or jump. Henry said they chose to jump to their death, not because they wanted to die, but because they wanted to live and that was their only choice.

Henry wrote a song with fellow veteran Donovan Chapman titled “Windows of your Mind,” about his love of life and living with ALS. You can find it on YouTube.

Henry Roe is a hero. He is finding light in the darkness and has done more for his fellowman from his wheelchair than many of us do in a lifetime.

“My history started the day I decided to start living.”

– Sgt. Henry Roe

May God Bless my friend.

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Todd Howey is a columnist for BrownwoodNews.com whose articles appear on Fridays. Email comments to [email protected].