In March I delivered a eulogy for a dear friend that formed the basis for my blog the following Sunday.  I said what makes that friend special involves one word: LOYALTY.  I later stated, “Loyalty represents the highest praise I place on any relationship.”   A Gotham blog by another covered loyalty nearly 16 years ago following a discussion at two Gotham group meetings where the group chairs asked attendees to identify their favorite superhero.  Many found favor with a certain individual by selecting the guy who protected Gotham City with a young sidekick. I opted not to take that conventional comic book approach.  I chose the Trojan prince Aeneas, the hero of Vergil's The Aeneid.  Interestingly, in movies, Steve Reeves (also of Hercules fame), who some mistakenly think was the brother of TV Superman George Reeves, played Aeneas.  The movie noted in Wikipedia, The Trojan Horse, ends with Aeneas leading his people from the burning ruins of Troy.  A later movie, that I viewed literally at the old Glen Oaks Movie Theatre after reading my Aunt Ina's copy of Edith Hamilton's Mythology, covered the time  Aeneas and his followers landed in Italy.  After an intensive search, I actually found the movie, The Avenger, and purchased it in a VHS format.  

What impressed me about Aeneas after I followed up reading The Aeneid centered around this hero's character.  As with most hero's, a flawed man, Aeneas stood for loyalty, not just to family, friends and people, but to the truth.  I continue to find inspiration in that concept.  Being there to back up your friends, to bail out a family member certainly makes one stand out.  I argue for a higher concept.  I certainly believe in, for example, loyalty to an employer, to a client (and back), but never should that loyalty include an expectation that one cross a line to cause a misdeed or untruth (or worse).  Often in The Aeneid, Vergil would refer to Aeneas as Aeneas Pius.  That refers to his loyalty.  

That earlier blog — originally posted by Friday’s blogger — I was unable to find when I searched for it ahead of this weekend, came to mind when I read last week about a major political figure reversing course on a commitment of support for a long-time public servant seeking re-election in a primary next month.  Based on the report I read in The New York Times by reporters I respect a lot — including one I know for some two decades, that commitment got ignored despite key support provided the year before.  In discussing it with some friends and colleagues, the lack of loyalty exhibited remains concerning (Names not mentioned as I strive to keep this Sunday blog non-partisan.).

Often Aeneas had to make choices that reflected the high virtue of loyalty in a way that dictated a sense of justice and duty: putting that ahead of all else.  It represents a quality I look for in those who serve us

The Trojan hero set a standard that if I emulate just one percent of the time (I hope I do/ have done better than that.), I know there will be some good in what I do.