Red Cross bestows hometown hero awards at Red Cross Festival
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Thursday, June 16, 2011—On Saturday, June 11 the Red Cross held its first annual Red Cross Festival with the theme Celebrating our Hometown Heroes. Heroes were recognized in five categories for acting selflessly for the safety and protection of others. Categories included a humanitarian hero; an emergency response hero; an animal rescue hero; a blood hero; and a military hero.
The Emergency Response Hero Award, sponsored by Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield, was presented to three volunteer firefighters from the North East Joint Fire District in Webster: Craig Akin, John Schantz, and John Jones. On March 7, a group of friends went walking on Lake Ontario off Webster Park when one of the 16-year-olds fell through the ice. He became trapped in a watery ice “volcano” and his friends were unable to pull him out. They called 911 but were unable to give specific directions to their location. Firefighter Jones located the group first and, grabbing his tow strap from his vehicle, rushed to their aid. According to reports, the tow strap was the difference between life and death. Jones fastened to tow strap around the boys midsection and, with the help of arriving firefighters Schantz and Akin, the three heaved the boy out of the ice to find him unconscious and in “unstable” condition. They then worked without the aid of pulleys to lift the boy up the steep incline and to a waiting ambulance. In the hospital, the teen was treated for hypothermia and frostbite. He is doing well today thanks to their brave response.
The Animal Rescue Hero Award, sponsored by Thomson Reuters, was presented to firefighters Wade Weaver and Thomas Champion; registered nurse and dog rescuer Amy Kohlmeier; and generous donor Anita Calderon. In January 2011, Anita Calderon donated animal rescue equipment to her neighborhood fire department on St. Paul Boulevard in Irondequoit. That equipment came in handy just four months later when firefighters were called to a fire on Hudson Avenue. Firefighters Weaver and Champion found the dog, Obie, trapped in the house, and carried it to safety. Outside, Amy Kohlmeier, wife of another firefighter and dog rescuer, used the donated equipment to revive the gasping dog and save his life.
The Blood Hero Award, sponsored by Xceed Financial Credit Union, was given to Mark and Debbie Harrison of Greece. Since 2003, the Harrisons have coordinated a blood drive in memory of their son, Greg, who passed away from leukemia. To quote their nomination, “To date, they have helped collect 679 units of blood and have helped save over 2,000 lives. The Harrisons coordinate with the church for the space, make all the phone calls to set appointments, provide pizza and a cake the day of the drive, and create an enjoyable experience for every donor. Their cheerful personalities, dedication, and hard work are truly an example of a hometown hero.”
The Military Hero Award, sponsored by Crosby-Brownlie, was awarded posthumously to Staff Sergeant Javier Ortiz. Javier Ortiz was an exceptional soldier, husband, father, and community member. Ortiz graduated from Edison Tech High School and participated in the Red Cross Hispanic Youth Leadership Development Program, now known as the Next Generation Leaders Program. He was also active in his church community and was well known as a reliable, thoughtful individual. After he joined the Marine Corps, Ortiz became a respected leader in his battalion. He was deployed in 2003 to Iraq and again in 2005 to Afghanistan. Thereafter, he became a trainer for new recruits for several years before his third deployment in September of 2010 to Afghanistan. On November 16, 2010, Ortiz was killed in action. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Javier leaves behind his wife, Veronica, and three children, Alyssa, Andrew, and Anthony.
The Humanitarian Hero Award, sponsored by the DiMarco Group, was presented to David Simpson. Simpson, a resident of Rush NY, was at his home when he heard the sounds of a car accident nearby. Without thought for his own safety, Simpson rushed to the scene and noticed a teen girl trapped in her car. Simpson used his pocket knife to cut her seatbelt and pulled her out of the car to safety moments before the vehicle was engulfed in flames.
For photos of the award recipients and the festival, visit our Facebook page (Greater Rochester Red Cross). High resolution photos can be obtained through Erin Caldwell at caldwelle@grcarc.org or 585-241-4419.
For video testimonials from the award recipients, visit http://www.rochesterredcross.org/NewsAndEvents/RedCrossStories/tabid/135/Default.aspx.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization—not a government agency—and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.rochesterredcross.org or contact us at 585-241-4400.