Brandon Creek, a senior at Mt. Vernon High School, was one of the first volunteer firefighters to arrive on the scene of an early morning house fire in January. When neighbors told him that two children were trapped inside the burning house, Brandon and one other firefighter went into action.

Karen Myers has always been a woman with a mission. A tireless volunteer in the community, she’s given her time and energy to numerous local causes: March of Dimes, the Leukemia Society, Easter Seals, the Public Education Foundation and more. She works as an advocate for victims of child sexual abuse, speaking out about her own experience and calling for more support for those who have suffered abuse.

Teamsters Local 215 about creating a huge, six-week long winter lights show in a city park.

They were surprised with a “definite yes.”

Since then, volunteers from all three organizations have given thousands of man-hours and dollars in services and supplies to make Ritzy’s Fantasy of Lights a reality.

Bob Reisz is a good fireman, says his boss, Captain Robert Alexander of the Evansville Fire Department. Bob Reisz is a hero because of his dedication – not just to his own family and community – but also to his country. He has been deployed three times to fight in Iraq. He first fought in Desert Storm, and then twice more in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On January 20, a man was jogging with a group of people from the YMCA and suddenly, he stopped, grabbed a street sign, and fell to the ground unconscious. Someone called 911.

Off-duty Evansville Police Officer Brent Hoover saw a group of people gathered around Kroeger, who was still breathing, though unconscious. RN Sarah Kraft was also on the scene. Kroeger stopped breathing. Both Kraft and Hoover knew that CPR must be administered very quickly; otherwise, brain damage or death was likely. Working together, they administered CPR. After several minutes, Kroeger’s pulse returned.

Amy and her family have turned fear into action. Amy is a hero. Her hope is unstoppable.

Mike Maurer had been experiencing chest pains for a couple of days. He thought it was just heartburn and had taken some antacids. Mike was taking a break at work, Electronics Research, Inc., with his co-worker Brad Wires, and he mentioned the pains. Brad was concerned. He urged Mike to go to the hospital. He said the Tums had been working a little.Brad was persistent. He wouldn’t let it drop. So Mike did. He left work, went to the emergency room, underwent some tests and was taken to emergency angioplasty surgery that day. He had major blockages and could have died that day. He later underwent open heart surgery.

Gibson County Sheriff’s Deputy Bruce Vanoven was the first person to find an 18-year-old who was shot and left for dead in a remote Pike County cornfield on July 17. It was Deputy Vanoven that found him, still bleeding profusely. Ripping apart his own uniform to form a tourniquet and stop the flow of the young man's blood.

In Evansville, the soldiers of the 1-163 Field Artillery Battalion and the 380 th Quarter Master Battalion answered that call and left home and family behind to serve our country.

The soldiers’ sacrifices – the lost days with loved ones; the birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and deaths that were missed; the fear they and their families endured while they were in harm’s way; the courage they found inside themselves to do their jobs, to get through the days – are honored and appreciated here today.

Heroes make sacrifices.

Carl Wallace, who heard about the little girl’s wish from a friend, decided to make sure it was fulfilled.

That was the beginning of the local chapter of Wish Upon a Star, which has been granting wishes to terminally ill children since Carl first stepped forward to make sure their dreams didn’t go unfulfilled.

To date, well over 200 of the most precious of wishes have come true because of Carl. His efforts – the miles he’s driven and the money he’s raised to make wishes come true – have brought many happy moments to life.

None of the men involved in the April 23 rescue of Vickie & Debra Berfanger woke up that morning planning to save a life.

But when Doug Falk, Michael Miller, Gary Minton and Steve Holland saw black smoke billowing out of a neighbor’s mobile home, and realized that one of the residents had collapsed, still inside, there was no question what they’d do. In the dark, smoke-filled room, Doug Falk finally grasped Vickie’s hand and the two men pulled. Steve Holland, another neighbor who had come running when he saw the smoke, lent his strength to the effort and finally Vickie was safely out of the house.

Their home was completely destroyed. But the actions of their neighbors saved their lives.

For every family that has a place to stay after losing a home to flood, wind or fire, there is a Red Cross hero.

For every mother who knows what to do when her toddler starts choking, there is a Red Cross hero.