Few tragedies have ever hit this community harder than the May 17, 2009, deaths of Tyler Daniel Smith, 4, and Hadyn Anderson Smith, 22 months, who perished when flames swept through their family home on Sherman Avenue.

Thousands joined Tyler and Hadyn’s parents, Trey and Jennifer, in mourning the toddlers. No one could feel the loss as intently as the young couple. In reading of their attempts to reach the children, however, many could relate to their loss even more deeply.

In one epilogue, The Vicksburg Post reported how family and friends had responded, likely joined by people who didn’t even know the Smiths, in providing them a new home.

Last week, we reported another — that upon nomination of fellow volunteer firefighter Johnathan Priddy, Trey Smith, who is assistant chief of the Culkin volunteers, received national recognition via a Firehouse Magazine 2009 Heroism & Community Service Award.

The award was not for Smith’s actions the night of the fire, but for resuming responses with his fellow volunteers a mere three weeks after his sons were killed.

“I believe people in the fire service should look at him as a role model — as a leader,” Priddy said, noting that Smith’s recognition came because “he didn’t walk away” from the department, never responding to a fire scene again — which would have been perfectly understandable.

Volunteers are all around us — firefighters and otherwise — and they do make a difference for the better in our community. Fire claimed the lives of Trey and Jennifer Smith’s children — but he’ll try to save yours. He said that’s not heroism. We say it is.