I once read that heroes are people who see a job that needs to be done…and then do it. Which got me thinking -how could I find and celebrate unsung heroes with photography?

The nice thing about heroes is they leave footprints. So even if you don’t know their name, their story, or where they are from, there is something different in the world because of their actions.

The Pere Marquette River in western Michigan is a nationally designated Wild and Scenic River. There are no dams or impoundments, and the river is well known for steelhead and trout fishing. It flows from east to west into Pere Marquette Lake, and then into Lake Michigan. The western boundary of the Wild and Scenic designation is at the junction of the river and U.S. Highway 31.

And then… there is a lonely section of the PM River (as locals affectionately call it) that wanders quietly for maybe a 1/2 mile into the Pere Marquette Lake. No big official designation, no government entity watching it closely.

Here I found my first Unsung Hero. The shoreline of the river – pristinely clean. An old chair sits on the riverbank at a favorite local fishing hole. And the backdrop? A re-used barrel, boldly painted with the words “HELP KEEP THE RIVER CLEAN.”

Who is this hero who took the time to bring the barrel here, to paint so boldly on its side, to return anonymously to empty its contents? For whoever it is cares – cares about the river, cares about the environment, and knowingly or not, cares about future generations.

Whoever you are, Unsung Hero, I sing your praises and thank you for your efforts.

maryleedereske.com

More info: maryleedereske.com

Evidence of the Unsung Hero of the Pere Marquette River

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