Many heroes have helped to make sure that Americans are free and that all Americans are treated fairly.

Paul Revere was a hero who believed our country should be free from England. One night, he rode a horse from town to town to tell colonists that the English soldiers were coming.

Americans often speak out for what they think is right.

Susan B. Anthony did this. For many years women were not allowed to vote. Susan B. Anthony believed that America would be a better place if all people were treated equally.

She worked hard to change the law so that women could vote.

Chief Jospeh was a leader of the Nez Perce. The Nez Perce were Native Americans who lived in Oregon. Our government wanted to use this land for white settlers.

The Nez Perce thought this was unfair. They fought to keep their land. But they were forced to leave. Still, Cheif Joseph keept speaking out for freedom.

Americans have worked hard for fairness. Years ago, a law in Montgomery, Alabama, said that only white people coud sit in the front of a bus. Rosa parks is black. One day, Rosa parks decided to sit in the front of a bus. Police took her to jail.

Many people, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., agreed with Rosa Parks. Dr. King told the people of Montgomery to stop riding buses until the law was changed. People walked to work or school for one whole year. Finally, the law was changed.

Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta worked together to make life better for farm workers. Laws said that farm workers did not have to be treated the same as other workers. They gave speeches and led marches to change these unfair laws.

Today, Dolores Huerta still works to help others. She gives speeches about treating women fairly.

John Glenn has been a soldier, astronaut, and government leader.

When he was a young man, he was the first American to go around Earth in a spaceship. later, he was a senator for the state of Ohio. When he was 77 years old, John Glenn went into space again. He rode on the space shuttle Discovery.

Not all heroes are well known. Many heroes are everyday people who do brave and special things. Firefighters and police officers risk their lives to help people. Volunteers work to make their communities a better place to live.