I've always been a fan of the Lone Ranger story. I've never been big into hero worship, but as far as heroes go, I would definitely have to say that the Lone Ranger was a role model I always aspired to, even if my beloved first horse was named for Roy Rogers' famous steed, Trigger.
There's no question that not everyone who reads this will be familiar with the plot behind the Lone Ranger. I don't know if one who knew it can forget it, but in either case, a quick overview to commemorate the anniversary is in order:
"A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty 'Hi-yo, Silver!'. The Lone Ranger!
Return with us to those thrilling days of yesteryear...the Lone Ranger rides again!"
A squad of six Texas Rangers are out on patrol. Among them is a Ranger named Reid, and the group his lead by his brother, Captain Reid.
Suddenly, the Rangers ride into an ambush and the air is filled with acrid white smoke and hot lead. Members of Butch Cavendish's 'Hole in the Wall' gang had been laying in wait, tipped off by their man, Collins, who had infiltrated the Rangers some months earlier to act as a 'mole' for the gang. The Rangers had been getting too close and needed to be eliminated in order for the Hole in the Wall gang to get away with their criminal enterprises.
A Pottawattamie brave named Tonto happens upon the scene of the slayings, and begins to examine the dead Rangers and thier equipment. Suddenly, he discovers that one of the Rangers is still alive. As he looks closer, he recognizes a ring that he had given the wounded man years before. He now knows that this downed Ranger is his old Kemo Sabe, Reid!
Tonto works to bury the five deceased Rangers as he nurses Reid back to health. Reid, thinking intently about what he'll do with his life now, maps out a strategy. He asks Tonto to dig and mark a sixth grave. From the assortment of equipment gathered from the fallen Rangers, Reid cuts leather from his late brother's black vest from which to fashion a mask. If all goes according to plan, the world will think he died in the ambush and no one will know his true identity as he spends the rest of his life endeavoring to bring the killers and others like them to justice.
Coincidentally, Reid and Tonto soon encounter a white stallion who'd been injured by a buffalo. They treat its wounds and when it returns to health, it becomes the Lone Ranger's mount, Silver. For radio, the cry, 'Hi-yo, Silver, away!' was used so the listening audience could know that a riding scene was starting. It carried over to television, presumably because the radio shows were still airing in 1949 when Clayton Moore started playing the Lone Ranger on TV.
The Lone Ranger and Tonto locate a mentor of Reid's, who lives alone where he's located a silver lode. Upon hearing of the situation, he offers to help in any way he can, which in this case is providing the duo with silver with which they can sustain themselves while on their quest for justice. Among other things, silver proves useful as bullet casting metal, and serves as a reminder that life is precious and should not be carelessly wasted or thrown away. Incidentally, I often shoot cast lead .45 caliber bullets of silver bearing alloy. They work pretty good, and you can imagine that I take every effort to recover them so I can remelt and recast them! I most certainly don't shoot 'bad guys' with them, though. In the fictional 'Old West', silver bullets may have been the answer, but today 'silver bracelets' are the preferred choice...
I do have to confess: Often I ask myself, in trying times, 'What would the Lone Ranger do?'. That's generally what I would want to do, too, whatever it may be. Why? It just always seemed right. Besides, like the Lone Ranger, I'm not supposed to be alive anymore, either, but I'm very thankful that I still am! I just don't hide my face in quite the same way to protect my true identity...
While developing the Lone Ranger, Fran Striker laid down a moral code the character was always supposed to follow. Later, realizing how much of a role model he was, actor Clayton Moore was known to follow that code the best he could in life. I believe that Jay Silverheels, who played Tonto on the television series, also did. We all should.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Lone Ranger Creed: (change the gender identification as you see fit)
I believe...
That to have a friend, a man must be one.
That all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world.
That God put the firewood there, but that every man must gather and light it himself.
In being prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for that which is right.
That a man should make the most of what equipment he has.
That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number.
That sooner or later...somewhere...somehow...we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken.
That all things change but truth, and that truth alone, lives on forever.
In my Creator, my country, my fellow man.
The Creed has always served me well.
Will it serve you, too?
-Tim Gordon
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