By Connor Boyd
BLOOMINGTON – The American Red Cross is asking for your help in honoring our local heroes.
The annual “Saluting our Heroes” event is not until November, but the Red Cross is already accepting nominations for awards in outstanding community service.
“It really does focus on our mission of the American Red Cross of helping individuals, saving lives, being there in a time of need,” Red Cross Spokeswoman Colleen Moore said. “And so we want to recognize those members that kind of follow along with what our mission is at the Red Cross.”
There are seven different award categories including:
Service to the Armed Forces
Good Samaritan
Health and Safety
Ambassador
Public Service
Volunteer
Youth (U-21)
Moore elaborated on the major components the award committee will look for when choosing a nomination.
“There’s two keys things to focus on when your nominating. It’s what actions or deeds make your nominee a hero and what impact has this person made on your life and the life of others in our community.”
Nominations can be submitted online at redcross.org/il/bloomington/2015heroes in an essay of no more than 300 words. Or by contacting Red Cross at (309) 662-0500. Moore added that the volunteer selection committee will have their work cut out for them.
“It is tough, it is a really tough decision,” Moore said. “We’re crying even as we’re going through the stories as we’re thinking what that individual went through, what they did for somebody else or a group of people, but we’ve got some really good folks on that committee that kind of play devil’s advocate and we go back and forth.”
Deadline for submitting nominations is Aug. 28.
Connor Boyd can be reached at [email protected].
