We have heard much made of the heroes of Sept. 11 and of those whose serve among New York’s Bravest. We know about their willingness to go in when others are running out and of their preparedness to make the ultimate sacrifice in their effort to save others.

Last week, an unsung hero firefighter took another stroll in a long, historic journey.

The 43-year-old, 20-year veteran walked across a small stage at the Fire Department’s headquarters to receive a promotion along with 19 other colleagues. The four yard stroll broke a barrier as old as the Department itself and as foreboding as any five alarm blaze encountered in a career.

Getting the navy blue cap and the gold bar wouldn’t be unique if Ella McNair weren’t an African American female, but since that’s exactly what she is, "unique" is just one word that applies.

"Lieutenant" is another, and with that title affixed to her name she breaks one of the last barriers in a club that by no means welcomed her with open arms.

She was among the first group of women firefighters allowed to go to training two decades ago. At five-feet, five-inches and 155 pounds, even she had to wonder then just where this would go and what she would bear along the way.

"The Job" back then was more archaic and so were the men who were in it. Many didn’t even want men of the same color if they didn’t have the right sur-name; let alone black men, and forget about women of any race.

When she applied it was no secret that she was the first black woman to sign up. In fact, she was encouraged to join by a black fireman in her neighborhood. But even then she didn’t see it as carrying the burden of her gender and her race — at the same time — into history.

Black women carry much for our people and it isn’t a new job. They have had to be mother and father for families from the time of slavery, when men were sold off to other plantations for profit. This they still do while being called "hoes," "bitches," and "tricks." No respect from whites and disrespect from their own makes a climb to the top like climbing twice or with twice the load.

McNair made her trip to history rather quietly, but this doesn’t mean the journey was calm. There was one incident 16 years ago when she was cut on the hand by a fellow firefighter during a confrontation. Even though the perpetrator was fined and then transferred, people would continue to let her know that she wasn’t welcome. Like anyone under that that kind of stress, her resolve was tested and once she gave in to the inclination to quit. But if she didn’t rethink that, obviously, I wouldn’t be writing you about her today.

For the young women in our community who face young motherhood, poverty, degradation, drugs, and death from a number of sources, McNair sets an example of what can happen to you if you just simply go after what you want and stick to it. Despite her extraordinary circumstances over the years, she became a hero by just doing the ordinary things no matter what. That can be applied to everything, including just going to class everyday no matter what else is going on around you and who is trying to influence you to do otherwise. It can mean saying no to the boy or young man trying to get you to have sex with him when you know you might not be ready for it. You can be your own hero by continuing to walk by the drug dealers who are always looking to expand their client base.

Heroic action isn’t always like the kind that took place on Sept.11. Bravery doesn’t always require a rush of adrenaline and the risk of death to be complete. If monuments to these special deeds were built one brick at time, why would it seem strange if the actions that lead to this human classification weren’t put together the same way?

If you are on the dawn of your dreams and don’t see what you want out of life as grand or historic, think again.What you do and how you do it may break barriers or simply keep a standard of excellence already established. You may inspire someone to be something beyond their current expectations of themselves.

Now there is one more thing that black women know they can be, and that is an officer in the New York City Fire Department.

Lieutenant Ella McNair is proof positive that heroes are more often just ordinary people doing ordinary things in extraordinary circumstances or for extraordinary results.