I am sure the above photo has been passed around the web as of late in some photo-shopped manner.  Dr. Timothy Lim is the creator on the above image.  Earlier this year, Dr. Lim created a piece of art for the Hasbro Children’s Hospital fundraiser Every picture has a story right?  The story behind this photo is best described by  Dr. Lim himself:

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Dr. Timothy Lim, Au.D. I am an audiologist from the state of Arkansas.

Today is a big day for me: thanks to an endorsement by Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime, RIPT Apparel and myself are selling my shirt, “The Voice of a Generation”, to raise money for Hasbro Children’s Hospital, the pediatric division of Rhode Island Hospital.

Optimus Prime, for a lot of people in my generation, has become an iconic hero. He was the first toy I remember getting for Christmas: the distinct voice of Peter Cullen on a Saturday morning echoes nostalgically in my memory. To say that this is an immense honor is an understatement.

As an audiologist, it’s wonderful to finally be able to pay it forward, especially towards pediatrics: in audiology, I have a profound respect for the women and men who give so much care and attention to children with hearing loss and aiding them throughout childhood. I’m thankful to my fellow audiologists, faculty, and colleagues for their continued support of my audiologic and artistic endeavors: I wouldn’t be here without you.

My entire artist royalties from this sale will go towards Hasbro Children’s Hospital, with RIPT Apparel matching my donation. Please forward this to anyone you know who might be a Transformers fan, or fans of Mr. Cullen in general.

Sincere thanks to you all!

~ Timothy Lim, Au.D.

http://riptapparel.com/

This is a great cause and one of the best and most haunting (in a good way) images I have seen in awhile. Read the rest of the story at the source link and also see a picture of Dr. Lim and Peter Cullen

Source: Seibertron.com

Rejoice Generation One (G1) fans!  The original 1984 animated series is now on Netflix. Apparently in HD too. So you can now watch Optimus Prime battle Megatron in the battles that started it all. There is nothing like Peter Cullen facing off against Frank Welker.  Check it out for yourself!

Source: Netflix

The headline says it all.  Peter Cullen will be attending the 2012 Botcon convention.  The dates are April 26-29 in Dallas, Texas.  For those of you who don’t know, Peter Cullen is the voice of Optimus Prime in pretty much all the Transformers Cartoons that a 30 something year old would watch and also the live action movies.  This has to be the single biggest announcement you could want to hear about a Botcon.  Hit up the source link for more info.

Source:  Botcon

The day has arrived and this is no April Fools Day joke.  Season 1 of Transformers Prime is now ready to be streamed in HD on Netflix.  Yes that means you can watch Optimus Prime battle Megatron on your mobile device or Netflix enabled TV.  There is only one downside.  Our friends north of the border in Canada will not be able to partake in this bit of awesomeness. At least not just yet.

Source:  Netflix

Activision and Hasbro announced a new video game for the Wii, DS,  and 3DS to be released later this year. Not much is known of the game yet, but it appears to be a “brawler” style game with alot of driving sequences.  For now it appears as though only Nintendo systems will carry this game. Will a PS3 or 360 version be made? Stay tuned for more info.

Source: Actvision – YouTube – Transformers Prime: The Game.com

If you were going to have someone narrate a video about space exploration whose voice would be most recognizable? Captain Jean Luc Picard? Agent Fox Mulder? Captain Kirk or Mr. Spock? Darth Vader? Sure most adults might know the voices. But is there one voice out there children AND adults would know? You guessed it. The voice of Optimus Prime. At least that is the feeling I am getting from NASA.

NASA has released a promotional video called “We are the Explorers” on their Youtube account and Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime, is narrating. The short video takes a look at how we humans keep reaching for things we have previously deemed impossible. It really is a great clip and evokes a sense of pride in what we have accomplished as a society. Kudos go out to NASA for having Peter Cullen lend his legendary voice!

Source: NASA Youtube

***This is interview was posted by  Charles Webb of MTVGeek.com.  Please visit their website for many more great interviews.***

A quick note for all would-be interviewers looking to get in a word edgewise with veteran Transformers voice actors Peter Cullen and Frank Welker when you’ve got them both in the same conversation: give up now and just let these two talk. The men behind Optimus Prime and Megatron have not only worked together for decades on shows outside of Transformers, but are good friends as well, with an easy rapport that you catch almost immediately when they get on the phone. The duo is indispensable to the 25-plus year old franchise, and it would be difficult to image what shape the the two men in their respective roles.

December 6th will see the DVD release of Transformers Prime: Darkness Rising, the Shout! Factory disc collecting the first arc of the new Hasbro-produced CG series on The Hub. Once again pitting the Autobots against the Decepticons in their seemingly eternal struggle, the battle returns to Earth with Megatron planning to escalate the conflict using the “blood” (as much as giant robots can be said to have blood) of ultimate franchise baddie, Unicron.

With the disc on the way next week, we thought we’d chat with Welker and Cullen–or at least let them talk while we listend–about the legacy of their characters, the unique working rapport they’ve developed over the years, and how innovations in CGI has allowed for more drama in Transformers.

MTV Geek: How are you doing, guys?

Frank Welker: Good morning, Peter.

Peter Cullen: Good morning, bud.

Geek: Are you guys in the same town right now?

Cullen: Uh, yes, we are—just opposite sides, but the same city.

Geek: How have you guys been enjoying working together on the current season of Prime?

Cullen: I gotta say it’s just a wonderful pleasure to be able to see Frank again and to work with him. We’ve reincarnated our glory days of Transformers and picked up where we left off. And it’s a riot.

Welker: Well, I will second that and working with Peter’s always a treat—we never quite know what’s going to happen from day to day, but it sure is great to see each other and reestablish old ties. You know, we have this rivalry of good and evil going back and it’s just fun to do battle with someone who you just like. [both laugh]

Cullen: Frank, I gotta mention this because it came to mind. The very first animated series I did with you—or for that matter, the first series I ever did—was Mighty Man and Yuck.

Welker: Oh! [both laugh]

Cullen: Where it was similar but not. I played a superhero—a millionaire, Brandon Brewster. Do you remember Brandon Brewster?

Welker: Yes, of course.

Cullen: Brandon turned into a miniature kind a Mighty Mouse, a superhero with a cape. And you played the dog, Yuck. We had to put a doghouse over your head and that was the beginning of our superhero relationship.

Welker: Yeah, and it was actually type casting. You were the hero and I was a dog with a house on my head. So, Charles, we’ve had this rivalry from the very beginning. And he’s always the hero and I’m either the villain or the dog with the house on his head.

Geek: What do you think keeps that rapport going after all this time? I mean, one of the most pleasant surprises was finding out that you guys were great friends outside of the VO booth—what keeps you working together?

Cullen: Well, I think it’s chemistry and—from my end—I have such an awed feeling when I’m working with Frankie and it’s no secret that I call him “The King.”

Welker: [laughs]

Cullen: Well, you are. I mean it. And just to be able to work with Frank on a continual basis over the years has always been one of the highlights of my life. I’ve always treasured every moment of it because for some reason that chemistry not only exists in the printed word script that we’re reading but it transcends into the off-mic hilarity and respect that we have for each other—[goes low into Optimus Prime’s voice] at least I hope so, Megatron.

Welker: Oh, absolutely. You know, it is kind of amazing that we’ve had the good fortune of knowing each other for so many years. I think Peter likes me because I always make sure to find a parking spot for him. I’ll take two and always make sure when he gets in he gets one. So, I think that’s one thing.

But as far as our acting goes, when you’ve worked with somebody for so long you tend to build up a rhythm. And when we walk into the studio, we could have been doing bears, or eagles, or cats, or something in another session and then when we walk in, we already sort of have this built-in rhythm from working with each other so that we can just step right into it. And that makes the working relationship really a lot of fun and work great for us, too.

Cullen: Oh, absolutely.

Yeah, there’s more than one moment of laughter. There’s—I’d say, in the process of a four hour session, there would be hilarity moments probably every 15 minutes. Even when you’re not speaking, Frank. Charles, he will do mimes. He’ll hit his knees or make a dramatic sound of some kind, or do something odd like make a little pillow with his head and his cheek, all in silence which will break me up completely and interfere with someone’s perfect read. And they’ll have to do it over because of Frank and me.

Welker: I think you’re giving away our professionalism here, Pete because actually, we work very, very hard. But, there is a certain amount of downtime and people think that Peter is this incredibly hard working, undeterred actor—which he is—but he’s also constantly trying to make me laugh and I’m constantly trying to make him laugh, so that keeps us entertained. And you know, when you’re working with an ensemble cast, those people are on mic, so you have to be very careful. And you figure, “Well, if I start doing mimes, I can do this quietly and see if I can make him laugh. If he does laugh, then he ruins the take, not me.”

Cullen: [laughs] Well, that’s true.

Geek: It sounds like you guys have so much fun together, why don’t we just have a buddy comedy starring you guys?

Cullen: Well that would be fun.

You remember Carl Weathers’ quote? Carl directed us in a long interview for something and there were about 20 questions. We answered two of them. And then they had to go out and get more for their cameras because they ran out of tape and we went on and on and on and on. But Carl Weathers suggested that we go on the road with this.

Geek: I’d watch your improvised animated adventures. That sounds like a good time.

Welker: Well, people don’t realize that Peter does fabulous impressions and I do a few. So we kind of get together and he might do the Duke and I might do you-know-who.

Cullen: [as John Wayne] Well, let’s not do it here, mister.

Welker: [drops an impersonation of frequent Wayne co-star, Walter Brennan] Well, I don’t see why not! We done it before and we might do it again!

Cullen: [still as the Duke] Well, thank you for that, Walter. You’re always a good friend when I need one.

Welker: [as Brennan] Well, somebody’s gotta be your friend.

So we go on and on with that stuff and drive people crazy. But it’s fun for us.

Cullen: Listen, Frank, you’ve been on The Tonight Show and every other leading talk show in the world and I recall a roast that you did on the Dean Martin Roast, and I think it was George Burns and sitting on the dais was the governor of California and soon-to-be-president of the United States Ronald Reagan. You skewered George Burns and you were doing the greatest impressions of people that, today, people might not remember or probably weren’t even born yet.

I mean, I was in awe of you then and I still am. But talk about impersonations, Charles—he does ten to one of what I do. Ten to one. I just keep doing the same ones over and over, he does another one every week. His Obama is fantastic.

Welker: [as Obama] Here’s the deal, Peter, the thing that Charles has to understand is that while Welker may do numbers and numbers and numbers of these things, you do quality. So quality as opposed to numbers is important, especially in this economy we want a lot of numbers, but they’ve got to be quality.

But enough about me.

Cullen: Thank you, Mr. President.

Geek: How does it feel bringing these characters around to a new generation of viewers every few years or so?

Cullen: In my case, it’s been a little longer. When this whole thing started up—when the Hub Network launched, this was probably the most exciting time, to me, following a couple of feature films for Transformers. You know, with Hasbro and The Hub, that combination is such a delight to begin with. They’re wonderful people to work with—number one.

But having provided the opportunity to bring this back to a new generation of kids is a very positive thing and I think it’s at the beginning stages—it’s at a fledgling stage—of great impact and I’m particularly proud of that because there’s so many good things that come out of this cast. And “character” is probably one of the biggest strengths. So many great people. And thank God for The Hub and thank God for Hasbro for brining along, again, a great opportunity.

Welker: Yeah, it’s an especially fun show to work on in this particular iteration because for me, what I like is [with] Megatron, the writing gives you time to develop. With the story, the way it goes from show to show, there’s a lot more time for the characters to develop and for the show to actually develop.

And you know, when we did Generation One, everything moved so fast and that was the style then. And your character’s just—it’s really so, so fast. You never really got a chance to go in-depth with the characters in terms of playing [them]. And here, we have Megatron and Optimus actually spending time talking to one another, still with a lot of fighting, but there’s some time where they’re just talking to each other and it gives a lot more depth to a range performance because you’re down and you’re talking low instead of just constantly fighting. And you get to see a little bit more about why the character feels the way he does and where you’re going.

And the CGI stuff is just absolutely beautiful. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come from the G1 which we thought was pretty cool back then. But now, the CGI it just stands up and it’s so beautiful. It gives you a lot more dimension, I think, and a lot more room to play. And as Peter said, our cast is just terrific. And working with some of these young folks, to sit and watch their energy and excitement, it’s all brand-new again.

Cullen: So true. You know, Frank, I was not part of seeing the Arclight presentation of Transformers: Prime recently, I had some complications so I missed it. But when you described to me the scene on the big screen, how surprised you were and elated that it was so incredible that you could see an animated feature coming out of this that sparked my interest because just watching television is one thing.

Welker: It stood up so well and seeing it on the big screen, you see the subtleties. And when the characters are actually fighting, a lot of times you don’t see the subtlety on television. And I was truly impressed with that.

Cullen: I still haven’t seen it. I will, eventually.

Geek: Having actually watched that first block of episodes, there’s a lot of really great detail in the character design and emotiveness in the faces. Did these new visual takes on the characters impact how you played the roles at all?

Cullen: Well, for Optimus, there’s this concentration, a film-like quality, that creates more intimate moments. And I think that brings out a quieter side Optimus Prime that Generation One didn’t quite have. But in saying that, as well, the film-like quality behind the scenes makes it more realistic.

And that reality is so prominent now so that you can get into subtleties with each other on a performance level that we didn’t really have before. It was more cartoon-oriented but this is more realistic. And so I think we’re treating it a little differently in our characters, somewhat. I’ve concentrated it more into an acting persona than it would have been otherwise.

I’m enjoying that in particular. When Frank and I have some of these allied moments where we’re both talking as two real humans, you know, Autobot-humans, that sense of actor-character—

Welker: It lets us get into the more subtle areas. And you can dig around a little bit more. Like in Generation One, we had to—you’re “up” all the time because you just need to be at that level. But now with the CGI, you’ve got a little bit more mouth movements and body movements and it opens up a whole other range of performance which is really desirable.

Geek: I simply love that introspection you guys have about how you tackle these different incarnations of the characters. Sitting here listening to you guys talk about these characters you’ve been voicing for the last two decades and change, you get a real sense of investment in them.

At this point, do you feel any kind of ownership there? When you go into the booth, do you ever say “Well, Megatron wouldn’t say this,” or “Optimus would probably say it this way?”

Welker: Well, when I watch Peter—and I have to say this, because he probably won’t say this for himself—he watches Optimus to a “t” and he’s very good about picking up anything that isn’t really his character—what his character wouldn’t say or wouldn’t do or how he would react. And he catches him in those little moments from time to time that it’s impressive to see how he does that. He would go, “Well, I don’t think Optimus would say it quite like this, lemme show you how I see it.” And he does it and they go, “Whoa, well, you’re right.” And I think that’s somebody who really knows their character and really is totally into it.

Cullen: Well, yeah, I think outside of Prime, I’ve had opportunities to be Prime and to stretch him into another dimension that he’s never been before.

Geek: What are your thoughts on some of the ways the franchise and the characters have changed over the years? You mentioned earlier that G1 was all about getting it done and getting it done quickly, whereas what do you feel Prime is?

Cullen: Well, I don’t think [the character] of Prime has changed at all. I think his definitions are still there. I think they’re dedicated to the qualities of what Prime represents.

And we’re able to function with the cast, and as Frank mentioned, they’re probably some of the best that I’ve worked with. And there’s such a respect for what we’re doing [and] I think that translates 100% in the studio.

So, we’re maintaining that line and we’re going to continue with it.

Welker: Yeah, I’d have to agree. In years past it wasn’t just “time to get it done” or anything, but it was the style of what was going on during that time and we made it fit for what we were doing.

And now, having this iteration, like I said one of the most pleasurable things to me is being able to have range: to be able to go very low, very subtle, very slow, then go high and crazy and wild or whatever. But to have a lot more dramatic range to play is fun as an actor.

Cullen: We had the opportunity to see Jeffrey Combs, who plays Ratchet, perform his one-man show about Edgar Allan Poe called Nevermore at the Steve Allen theater and that’s just another opportunity to [do that].

If I could describe the feeling that we have in that booth, we have Ernie Hudson, Steve Blum, and Josh Keaton, and Tania Gunadi, and Sumalee Montano—you know, if I’m omitting somebody, it’s only because we have a minute or so.

Well, we look forward to it, don’t we, Frank?

Welker: Absolutely.

Source:  MTV Geek

The following is an article written by IGN editor Eric Goldman. He interviewed Peter Cullen on September 30th, 2011

—-

This was an interview I was very excited about. As a child of the 80s, the voice of Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime is a very comforting and unforgettable part of my memory, as it is to so many others. To the delight of fans, Cullen has been able to reprise the role several times in recent years, first in the Transformers feature films, and then in the Transformers: War for Cybertron video game and the current Transformers: Prime animated series.

With Transformers: Dark of the Moon now on Blu-ray, I spoke to Cullen about the success of that film, and the overall and rather amazing impact Optimus Prime has had – both for fans of Transformers and for the man who voices the noble Autobot leader.

Not bad for a truck that turns into a robot!

IGN: Transformers has always been successful, to say the least. But when you see this third movie come out and it makes over a billion dollars, is it just staggering for you to see how big the series is?

Peter Cullen: Yes it is. It’s a staggering thought, and it’s humbling at the same time. There’s so much involved to get it where it is. There is such great talent behind the scenes as well as from the artistry to the conception to the writing to the directing to the acting. There are so many ingredients that go into creating a success story like Transformers, but this one is certainly unique. For me, I take great pride in being a part of it. It will never cease to be an area of conversation in my life, and thankfully so, because it is such a positive feeling to be able to talk about it. It’s one of the highlights of my life.

IGN: When you’re making the feature films, at what point to do you actually record the voice? Do you get to see any footage?

Cullen: I see a lot of footage in different stages. I’ve seen pencil sketches in front of me on a big screen, to some digitally animated in one process of creativity. There may be a little color that’s being added to it at the time, but certainly it’s current for me to see, so I have the picture and I know what’s going on. And [I record] to finished moments of digital animation, at the same time. So, I work in that room with Michael [Bay] and an engineer. Then behind me, of course, is the control room; the great guys back there that are making everything happen technically. But it’s basically me and a big screen and a microphone. There will be a lot of moments where there will be a little confusion as to what happened prior and what’s going to happen, because I wasn’t privy to an entire script. I would rely on Michael to get me the information necessary to govern my lines correctly and maintain the character at the same time.

IGN: In the third film, the Autobots are cast out at one point by the humans. Is it interesting for you to play Optimus in a less-than-trusted position, considering that’s not the norm for him?

Cullen: True – and I never knew where I was going to be! [Laughs] I shared the same moments of curiosity as you did. From day to day, each recording session would further my curiosity. “What’s going to happen now? Am I coming back? Where am I going from here? Am I gonna get killed?” It was always interesting. It was always exciting to at the same time. I was not privy to what everybody else was, which was good. It kept me on my toes.

IGN: There are moments in the third film that some fans felt were out of character for Optimus, notably when he keeps the fact that the Autobots are alive secret while the Decepticons are attacking Chicago. Whether or not you agree with those criticisms, is it gratifying for you to realize that the fans are so invested in this character that they’d say, “I don’t know if Optimus would do that!” They clearly really and truly care about this character.

Cullen Yeah. When I think about that, it brings back the relationship between the fanbase and Optimus Prime, and it’s so unique on its own. And that goes back all the way to 1984. It’s something that is, by itself, a very strong core – Prime and fanbase. It’s something that transcends the business world. It transcends the normal concepts of entertainment in the film industry. It’s unique, and I share with the fanbase… And I hate to use it in such a general term, because one fan to me is the entire fanbase and I look at that fanbase as one individual, because we both share a unique experience. That’s a bond that was created that I became aware of over time. It’s a bond that’s going to remain as long as I’m alive and I value it highly. It’s a very unique thing to have as an entertainer or as an actor.

IGN: I’ve seen the reactions Transformers fans have to you at conventions, and legitimately touching moments where fans express how much this character has meant to them. It must be amazing for you to realize the impact Optimus Prime has had.

Cullen: Yes. It punches me right in the heart when I encounter those moments, and there are many. I can’t begin to tell you the effect that it’s had on me because it’s huge, and for anybody to go through life and have an impact on somebody else’s life, it gives you that sense that you’ve made a difference. To be able to communicate that back in an individual is a golden moment, and it touches me to the very core. I’m really proud to be able to have the opportunity to feel that, and it’s hard to describe. It really is, Eric. It’s very hard to describe. I’m sure you get the understanding of what I’m trying to say.

IGN: Oh, definitely. I’m also guessing, on a somewhat more humorous level, that there are times where they might bring up minutia from a specific episode that was a long time ago, and you’re impressed by what they remember about the show?

Cullen: True. I like the idea that they recall little things that I can’t even remember, the little details. I’ve been asked to stray away from the norm and to do something comedic [as Optimus]. I haven’t done that yet, and I don’t think I will. I don’t want to put humor-esque… Regardless of if its satirical or it’s a parody of some kind or another, I want to maintain that sense of dignity to it. But the minutia that you talk about, it pops up every now and then, and I’m always amazed because it’s really hard to remember the little incidents that happen during a recording session or perhaps the ad-libs that came out.

IGN: Is there a line of dialogue that seems to have struck the biggest chord that you’re asked to repeat or people tell you is your favorite?

Cullen: There is more than one line. There are ones that certainly stand out more than others… “Hold on to your dreams. The future is built on dreams.” This was from a young boy who eventually died of cancer, and he was into crocheting. He crocheted the image of Optimus Prime standing, having transformed, and his motto was, “Hold on to your dreams. The future is built on dreams.” He never got to finish it, but the children in the hospital did, who were in his ward all suffering from similar or different circumstances, but certainly very, very sad, emotional… And to bring that to mind, that would be the most poignant, and I would say one that’s most endured. [Editor's Note: Cullen said the next line in the Optimus voice, and yes, I got chills] “Hold on to your dreams. The future is built on dreams.” And I just think of Michael, the young boy, and his heart and the effect that Optimus had on him and the hope that it gave him. So that’s one. And “Till all are one,” I think is a great line. There are so many.

IGN: That’s incredible. And these days, you’re also doing Transformers Prime where a lot of fans, myself included, are so happy to have you and Frank Welker working together again. What’s that like for you?

Cullen: It’s the greatest pleasure of my life, Eric, without a doubt. We get to record once a week, and altogether, the cast, every one of them, I am just in awe of. We are all like a unit. We are one team, and I’ve never experienced this before in a studio. And every one of us shares that same feeling, and we express it every time we’re together. The joy that we have working together, it comes across. To put Frank next to me as we are, Megatron and Prime standing side by side again, in serious altercation form. Then, when the mic is off, we’re in hysterics. He still tries to make me laugh while I’m drinking water so that it will come out my nose. He still can do it. Frank Welker is one of the greatest talents that I’ve ever known in my life. To work with him again, there are no words to describe it. It’s a pleasure and it’s an honor, and he’s such a good friend. It’s there, and it’s going to continue to be there thanks to The Hub and Hasbro. The Transformers Prime series and the people involved in it, it’s wonderful.

IGN: When you’re making a billion dollars, it’s hard to believe there won’t be another Transformers film. Has anyone said anything to you yet?

Cullen: Oh, I think there will be. Gee, I want some of that. [Laughs] Yeah, I don’t think it can end. It’s such a huge brand, and it’s had such an effect on people all over the world that I don’t think it’s going anywhere. And if anybody had the decision to bury it, they would be insane.

Source:  IGN (original article)

The day has finally arrived that you can put your BlueRay or DVD player on repeat and watch  Optimus Prime in High Definition.  For those of us who still cherish our aging DVD player and those of us who probably use a PS3 as a BlueRay player, we can freeze frame every second of our favorite Transformer. The BlueRay/DVD combo pack also contains a digital copy. That way you won’t wear out the physical disc.  Continue reading for official press release from Paramount Pictures.

Spectacular action, stunning visual effects, non-stop thrills and fan-favorite characters including OPTIMUS PRIME, BUMBLEBEE and Sam Witwicky rocketed Transformers: Dark of the Moon into the stratosphere, with the latest installment of the wildly popular TRANSFORMERS franchise surpassing its predecessors to earn over $1.1 billion at the worldwide box office. From Paramount Pictures in association with Hasbro, the breathtaking film redefines the scale, scope and emotional impact of what a blockbuster can be with the ongoing epic story of the mighty AUTOBOTS in a thrill-packed adventure that the whole family can enjoy. Distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment, the film will debut in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo with a digital copy and on standard DVD on Friday, September 30, 2011, followed by a deluxe Blu-ray and DVD release, including a Blu-ray 3D, in the coming months.

Canadian Rating: PG for violence and coarse language

Today marks the 10th Anniversary of the terrorist attacks in NYC, Washington, and Pennsylvania.  On that day, many brave men and women lost their lives in the most tragic devastation on American soil since Pearl Harbor.  Americans and people across the globe united to help each other.  Firefighters, police officers, and ordinary citizens risked their lives to save the lives of others.  Heroes were made that day. Risking their lives to save the that of another.  From the fires of evil rose up leaders, heroes, and an overall sense of unity.

Today we pause and remember all those who were lost to us.  And we also remember the brave souls who brought home our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, aunts and uncles to us.  Because of their courage and selflessness we cherish each and every day that we have been given.

I have to wonder about how leaders have been personified in mainstream movies and entertainment since 2001.  Around that time many of our childhood comic books and TV shows have been made into movies.  At the center of them has been the struggle between good and evil.  There is always a central character or group of  people who fight for freedom and the rights of others.

On September 11th, 2001 we needed a leader, a hero.  Thoughts of Superman and Optimus Prime come to mind for me personally. And they were swirling around internet boards, magazines, and mainstream media in the weeks and months after that day.  All the qualities we look for in a hero, we can find in these characters.  They give us inspiration and hope. And ultimately they give us the strength to believe in what we can do to live up to what a hero is personified as.

If you see any firefighters, police officers, our brothers and sisters in the armed forces, or anyone else who assisted in the efforts of that day…. please thank them for being a hero to all of us.

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