Saluting the heroes among us
By STEVE ROUSH
The Highland County Press
WILMINGTON – Some have saved lives. Others have helped those who couldn’t help themselves. Some have given back and given generously of their time and resources. Some have spent the vast majority of their lives assisting their community, while others responded in the blink of an eye to assist another in a time of need.
They have all made a difference.
They are all heroes.
On Wednesday morning, local heroes were recognized during the 2013 Highland and Clinton County Red Cross Heroes Awards Breakfast at the Roberts Centre near Wilmington.
Hundreds attended the annual event as Daniel Hernandez Jr. delivered the keynote address. Hernandez is widely credited for saving the life of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords on Jan. 8, 2011 when Giffords and 18 other people were shot at a constituent event near Tucson. An intern for Giffords, Hernandez provided first aid to the Congresswoman moments after she was shot in the head by a gunman outside a Safeway grocery store. Six people died in the attack.
Hernandez recalled the day that changed his life and the lives of so many others.
“It was about 10 minutes into the event when I heard the first bang,” he said. “Now, many of you who work in emergency services might know what that first bang sounds like, but for someone who is civilian and is not involved in emergency services, that first bang is something that is terrifying and confusing … then in quick succession there was a second and third bang. When that happened, and someone yelled the word ‘gun,’ I knew something had gotten very wrong.”
Hernandez said he used the training he received from the American Red Cross to attempt to assist Giffords and others.
“I thought it was important to do what I could until others who had better training could come in and do more,” he said.
Hernandez said when he found Giffords on the ground after she was shot, he propped her up, made sure her airway was clear, tried to stop the blood loss and talked to her and tried to comfort her before emergency personnel arrived approximately nine minutes later.
The critically injured Giffords was then taken to the University Medical Center of Tucson.
Hernandez has been celebrated as an American hero, but he humbly rejects the title.
“I’ve been described as a hero, and I still don’t think that I am, because I think that the people who are the real heroes are the people who dedicate their lives to helping others,” he said.
“People who oftentimes don’t receive recognition. People who are teachers, nurses, doctors, people who are elected officials, people who have found what they care about, what they are passionate about, and find a way to give back and do something to help.”
Hernandez said the people who were honored at the event – and many others – are true heroes.
“We owe a sense of gratitude to all of the people who are nominated today because they have done great things, but we have to remember that they are not the only heroes,” Hernandez said. “We are all people who are capable of being heroes by finding our ways of giving back.”
Highland County Commissioner Tom Horst, who attended the ceremony, praised Hernandez.
During the Wednesday county commissioners' meeting, Horst said Hernandez "did an excellent job. He stressed the importance of volunteering and giving back to your community."
Hero Award winners from Highland County that were honored were: Brandon Newland (Youth Hero Award), Ernie Blankenship (Lifetime Achievement Hero Award), Anna Spilker (Lifetime Achievement Hero Award), Ted Rhoads (Humanitarian Hero Award), Tim Parry (Humanitarian Hero Award), Virginia Rhonemus (Humanitarian Hero Award), Fred Yochum (Educator Hero Award), Terry Fouch (Educator Hero Award), Bradley George (Emergency Service Hero Award), Mike Hurley (Emergency Action Hero Award), Marc Lewis (Emergency Action Hero Award), David Shafer (Emergency Action Hero Award), Mike Crone (Emergency Action Hero Award), Erica Hurless-Miller (Emergency Service Hero Award), Eric Luschek (Emergency Service Hero Award), John Moore (Emergency Service Hero Award), Danielle Sink (Emergency Action Hero Award), David Barrett (Emergency Action Hero Award), Bryon Morris (Emergency Action Hero Award), Hillsboro Ponderosa Steakhouse (Business Hero of the Year Award), Hillsboro Kroger (Business Hero of the Year Award) and Sandy West (Pet Hero Award).
“What an amazing group of people we have here today,” said Deanna Liermann, chair of the Red Cross Leadership Council. “We’d like to thank all of our heroes and thank everyone who made this event possible.”
John and Andrea Holt of Ponderosa Steakhouse were named the Highland County Outstanding Heroes of the Year.
“Some of these heroic, life-changing deeds happened over the course of a lifetime,” said Bob Lambert, co-chair of the Highland County Heroes Campaign. “Others occurred in the blink of an eye. They all have one thing in common – the selfless action to positively impact the lives of another.”
Maggi Horst, also co-chair of the campaign, also saluted the local heroes, and said Highland County is planning to host a similar event in the future.
“This year, we have more people than ever attending this event to show support for the heroes of our county,” Horst said. “This year, we renew our commitment to the Red Cross. And this year, we begin our plan to hold a companion event in Highland County.”