Heroes.

Heroes. They're all around us, but very seldom do we take the time to appreciate them firsthand. I'm not talking about Superman, but rather an extraordinary woman named Miep Gies. Miep Gies is often associated with being the Frank family's personal spy during World War 2 when all of the Jews in Europe either hid for their lives or were hauled away to concentration camps, often destined to die lonely, plauged with disease. The thought makes me shiver. I wish things like the Holocaust never had to happen in the world, but nothing can ever even begin to change the course of history,even as much as we would like.

I've always been in love with The Diary of Anne Frank. The book itself, the transcripts to make the book would not exist today if it weren't for Miep Gies. Miep Gies worked for Otto Frank as a secretary in his petroleum factory. Otto and Miep knew that the Jews were being overtaken by Hitler, and Otto made a plan to live upstairs in the petroleum warehouse in a secret annex. Miep kept the Franks up-to-date on everything that was happening in Europe while bringing them food and supplies to sustain life.

The Franks were successfully hidden from 1940 to 1942 with the help of Miep. Miep also heled two other Jewish families during this time. She could have lost her life for doing such a thing, because it was outlawed at the time. Miep Gies is what I would call a hero. She was a fighter, a believer, and most of all, loyal. Miep Gies died at the age of 100. She will never, ever be forgotten. Rest in peace Miep, you will be missed.