Residents reveal rich character

Columbia County's schools have designated the week surrounding Sept. 11 as American Character Week, and today The News-Times highlights some of our citizens who demonstrate good character.

There should be a purpose to our grief. The attacks one year ago can't damage our community and send us into depression and isolation as long as we are willing to join hands in unity.

Today, with stories in The News-Times, we talk about some of the people in Columbia County who are working to build a better community through service to their fellow citizens. They are role models, the people who show what good character is all about.

Columbia County is richly blessed with such people. There is Evelyn Brown, who, along with a couple of friends, started It's Spooky To Be Hungry, an annual food drive that helps feed the hungry and build valuable connections among neighbors. She hasn't stopped there; Brown also is starting a new program to collect hotel toiletries for donation to women's shelters.

There are Angie and Bill Campbell in Grovetown, who operate the United We Care clothing and food pantry. They feed needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and year-round help those who otherwise would do without.

There is Barbara Beazley, who started the Columbia County Foundation for Children to offer badly needed help to Columbia County's underprivileged children.

Along with firefighters, police officers, medical personnel and other emergency workers, these and many others are the role models who exemplify the kind of qualities American Character Week is meant to highlight. In addition to their service to their fellow man, they have one other thing in common: rarely do any of them seek glory for their efforts.

Character, it is said, is what a man does when no one is looking. For these and other role models serving our community, character is what they do without seeking the attention of others.

That's why we're highlighting these people today, even as our country is reminded of attacks a year ago that united us in sorrow. We hope that by giving some of these citizens at least a fraction of the recognition they deserve, their example will encourage others to likewise serve our community.

(Barry L. Paschal is publisher of The Columbia County News-Times. E-mail comments to bpaschal@newstimesonline.com, or call 863-6165, extension 106.)