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A toast - to unsung heroes

Have you heard the name John Grunsfeld?

How about Thomas Francis?

Perhaps Simcha Blass?

No, No and No?

I am sure some of the readership has heard of perhaps one or more of these but I can assure you that the vast majority has not.  When you put it in perspective of what the current world population finds attractive and memorable it is a shame.

John was a NASA scientist and astronaut - the only one to have made three space walks to repair the best telescope mankind has produced.  The Hubble Space Telescope.  It flies around the earth at an elevation of 300 miles and has been doing so for 27 years.  John's work on the telescope is giving humanity a glimpse into our beginnings and an understanding of our universe like we have never seen before.

Thomas was one of the co-inventors of the flu vaccine which today accounts for healthy children and adults all over the globe saving lives in many cases and boosting global productivity.  If not for its invention we would be coughing and feeling miserable at best for months and costing the economy incalculable losses.

Simcha was the inventor of the drip irrigation system used in farming.  An Israeli inventor he came up with the concept of metering water supply to the plant to avoid waste.

Think about it.  People that never get on the front pages of popular magazines or not get tweeted or followed and yet have dramatically altered the very face of humanity in the most profound way possible. 

Hats off!

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