Red Cross to honor local heroes

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — “We want to recognize ordinary people who are doing extraordinary acts during their every day work or activities,” Maureen Simmons, of the American Red Cross said.

The Red Cross is seeking nominations from Cibola, San Juan and McKinley counties, as well as statewide, for the New Mexico Real Hero awards in several different categories.

It is seeking nominations of people who have gone beyond the ordinary, above and beyond the call of duty and did heroic efforts in responding to those in need.

The awards will be presented at a breakfast banquet at 8 a.m., May 5, at the Embassy Suites in Albuquerque.

The deadline for the nominations is March 13, and those who are nominating someone may do so online at www.redcrossalbq.org/heroes.

For those who do not have access to the Internet in call 1-888- 272-3525, and a nomination application will be immediately mailed, Lillian Rose, of the Red Cross Farmington office, which is responsible for Cibola, San Juan and McKinley counties, said.

William Merriman, the Cibola County Red Cross representative, said: “I think it is wonderful to recognize local heroes — people who in the course of living, or during their regular jobs and in the course of events — do heroic efforts.”

The nomination categories are:

• Good Samaritan — An outstanding adult who displayed courage and caring in reacting to an unusual, significant or unexpected event.

• Youth Good Samaritan (under 21) — An outstanding youth who displayed courage and caring in reacting to an unusual, significant or unexpected incident.

• Emergency Medical Assistance — An individual, who during a time of crisis, provided medical assistance including CPR and/or first aid to a person in need.

• Firefighter — A professional firefighter who acted above and beyond the call of duty.

• Law Enforcement — A law enforcement officer whose actions went above and beyond the call of duty.

• Disaster Relief — An individual who exhibited heroic efforts in response to a natural disaster.

The Red Cross recognizes local heroes this way in many of the 107 chapters throughout the country and it was time to begin that process in New Mexico, Simmons said.

Each selected local hero will have individual portrait photographs taken by Santa Fe photographer Don Usner and it will be placed in a Red Cross Hall of Fame in the Albuquerque office, Simmons said.

Information: 1-888-272-3525
On the net: www.redcrossalbq.org/heroes.
To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call (505) 285-4560 or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.