Hero

Thầy Hùng passed away last night.

He taught me many important lessons during my stay in Vietnam and I will miss him dearly for his compassion, his selflessness, and the love he shared for those around him.

Cái chết đến sớm, hay trể, không có quan trọng. - Death arriving early, or late, isn't important. He taught me to not fear death, for it is the impact we make on others while we are alive that is truly important.

Thầy Hùng was brave enough to take a stand in a society that ostracized the sick and poor, to be the voice of compassion where it was needed the most. In his honor and in honor of all the people who have fallen to poverty, sickness, and despair, I will continue this journey that I am on with the simple goal of making the world a better place for others, to make a difference, and to be the force of change that is needed. For the orphaned children of Vietnam, for the single-mothers living in the slums, for the grandmothers who have survived to watch over all of them - I promise you I won't forget what I saw and the stories you shared with me.

When I first met him, he told me to call him Anh Hùng, meaning Brother Hung, though he was much older than myself. In fact, he was my father's age. I took it as a sign of humbleness and I later came to call him Thầy, meaning teacher or mentor. He later introduced me to the children as Chú Lộc, meaning uncle. One day, in Thầy Hùng's absence, a child called me thầy during a brief English lesson. The words resonated within me and it humbled me to even think I could be considered his peer. I am not brave enough, not strong enough to be on the same level as such a great human being. Someday, I hope to live up to that standard, even if it's only a title.

Thầy Hùng is a hero and his lessons will live on through the lives of others. That is the greatest legacy a man can leave behind and the greatest honor a human being can have. We will miss you, Thầy Hùng, may you rest in peace.