ori

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"I consider him an unsung hero:'
Barbara Seldon wrote in her nominating
letter. "You won't find his name in lights;
he isn't famous; most people are abso-
lutely unaware of his altruism:'
Felix Seldon added, "Herman is a
saint; he will long be remembered for
his caring devotion and sacrifices to
help needy veterans:'

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20

Barbara Seldon, Betty Sherline, Felix Seldon and honoree Herman Sherline at
Southfield's MLK celebration

Humble Hero

Herman Sherline receives Southfield's
MLK Community Service Award.

H

erman Sherline is a quiet,
Organization (SVO) barbecue several
unassuming man, but it
years ago. Barbara and her husband, Felix,
doesn't prevent him from
are both Vietnam veterans, Task Force
making a lasting impression.
past presidents, MLK Community Service
Take his mother-in-law, for instance.
honorees and longtime friends of the
It's late August 1954, and Pfc. Sherline is
Sherlines. The Seldons nominated him
on leave during the Korean
for the prestigious MLK award
War era and close to walking
after witnessing countless acts
his beloved, Betty Weinberg,
of compassion he exhibited
down the aisle. That's when
toward hundreds of homeless
he popped the question. No,
veterans housed at the Veterans
not "that" question; Betty had
Foundation in Detroit.
already said yes. But he asked
When the SVO ceased opera-
another question that could
tions, Herman was determined
have created a different kind
to carry the torch on behalf
of warfront. Herman needed
of those veterans in need. He
his bride-to-be to ask her
enlisted help from the Seldons,
Alan
mother if they could move
members of his Zussman Jewish
Muskovitz
their wedding up a month
War Veterans Post 333, the
Jewish News
to accommodate a time-
Jewish War Veterans Ladies
Columnist
sensitive career move the
Auxiliary and the Oak Park JCC
Army had offered him. And
to continue the bi-annual visits
his intended's mother said yes.
to the Michigan Veterans Foundation. To
I don't know about you, but if you can
help raise funds, Herman joins fellow vet-
get your future mother-in-law to move
erans and sells poppies each May outside
heaven and Earth at a moment's notice,
area grocery stores.
you have the "it" factor. It's apparent that
Herman's motivation is simple. "These
the qualities Herman's mother-in-law saw people are hungry and homeless, so we try
in him more than 60 years ago — kind,
to help them because they're humans:'
humble, a giving man who served his
I could tell by the tone in his voice that
country with honor — were just a few of
he knew these souls were too often for-
the same qualities that led the organizers
gotten. In describing the group's efforts,
of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Task
Felix Seldon said, "We were the train and
Herman was the engineer"
Force of Southfield to choose Herman
Sherline as the recipient of its 2014 MLK
At the gatherings, veterans are fed a
Community Service Award.
hearty meal, with contributions from
The honor, given to distinguished citi-
Leo's Country Oven in Madison Heights,
zens for their communal contributions,
and are also the recipients of clothing.
was bestowed upon him as part of MLK
Personal sundries are made available to
Day celebrations at the Task Force's 29th
help the veterans maintain their health
Annual Peace Walk Celebration, attended and their self-respect. Supplies never run
by 1,500-2,000 in the Southfield Civic
dry because Herman tends to make up
Center Pavilion.
for shortages by quietly contributing his
"From the moment I looked into his
own funds to sustain the effort.
Perhaps even more important, Herman
face, I saw such humility" said Barbara
Seldon, describing the first time she
and his "troops" offer the vets some
met Herman at a Southfield Veterans'
much-needed companionship.

A Humble Man
On the eve of receiving the Task Force
award, I sat with Herman and Betty in
the Southfield house they've called home
since 1959, and where they raised four
children, who have blessed them with
eight grandchildren. Now "90 percent
retired" from the insurance business,
85-year-old Herman spends five days a
week at the JCC where he has a three-
hour workout regimen.
During my visit, I could see that
Herman was a reluctant hero; it took
some prodding from Betty to reveal more
details about his dedication to his fellow
veterans.
"Come Christmastime she said, "our
living room is overflowing with hun-
dreds of gifts Herman has bought for his
Veterans Foundation holiday visit:'
Soon a folder appears of pictures and
articles chronicling Herman's trips with
fellow volunteers to visit the Veterans
Foundation. Among the yellowed news-
paper clippings is a column announc-
ing Herman Sherline as the city of
Southfield's 2008 "Citizen of the Year:' In
the article, Herman says he doesn't see his
actions as generous, but rather his duty
and that of other veterans to help their
comrades who are less fortunate.
Herman hands me the artifacts and
tells me to keep them. It's apparent he has
no desire to pat himself on the back; he
just has a job to do. His memories will
serve to remind him of what his heart
has been doing for years. Regarding his
efforts, Betty reveals that Herman's main
worry is "who will carry on?"
It came as no surprise that during the
award ceremony Herman didn't focus his
remarks on himself, but rather on stories
about Martin Luther King Jr. After leaving
the stage, he was surrounded by his loved
ones; kisses from his daughters, prideful
hugs from his grandchildren and hand-
shakes of congratulations from others.
Herman stood there quietly taking
it all in, with few words being spoken,
but then again, when your name is on a
plaque alongside Martin Luther King Jr.'s,
what more is there to say?

❑

Learn more about the Michigan

Veterans Foundation at www.

michiganveteransfoundation.org. Alan

Muskovitz is a writer, voice-over/acting

talent and a regular guest host on the Mitch

Albom Show on WJR AM 760. His website is

www.laughwithbigaLcom.