You are brave enough to teach future heros :)
We all have a purpose. Yours may not be on the front line; but it is behind the line that still supports the front line.
Special prayers for your brother too ;)
My other heroes are in my class. It is the little boy who has thrived since he decided to pray with his mom each day that he would read better, the former bully who is a big teddy bear now, the girl who has overcome her shyness to become an excellent reader and leader, the boy whose mom has a brain tumor and is so proud that he is doing so well in school, the girl who has a hard time making new friends who has thrived since she happened to sit by just the right person, the boy who has gone up four grade levels in reading in one year, the boy who has thrived despite his "real" mom giving up custody to him, and so on. That's just THIS year. My biggest hero was the former student who died of brain cancer 2 years ago. He wanted to keep learning until the very end. Such is the very essence of teaching and the reason why I will keep doing it for so long (my goal is actually 40 or 50 years if I can help it--I'm almost 20% there). And no, I don't believe it is me who does it. I get blessed by the man upstairs every year. There simply is no logical explanation for some of the things I see happen and it certainly has nothing to do with this not so good teacher.
Special prayers for your brother too ;) He is the real hero, however, not me. Any person who volunteers to serve their country (especially him somewhat later than most do) dwarfs whatever I do.