The American Red Cross of the Cape, Islands & Southeast MA will once again honor local community members who have saved a life, helped someone in need, or served our community in an extraordinary way at its 16th Annual Heroes Breakfast, April 13th, 7:30- 9:00 a.m. at The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis.
Fred Rogers, from Mister Roger’s Neighborhood, still inspires kindness amongst us today. He is quoted as saying, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” The Red Cross knows just how true these words are. Over and over the people we honor tell us they don’t feel like Heroes; they are doing what anyone would do. The Red Cross wants to highlight these many acts of Heroism by everyday people being “helpers” in times of need. At this year’s 16th Annual Heroes Breakfast, the Red Cross will continue to showcase how local heroes change lives. Selfless heroics- whether through saving a life or enriching and transforming lives over the years of service to our community- make a difference in the Cape, Islands and Southeast MA communities.
This year’s emcee will be TV News personality, Doug Meehan, from WCVB Channel 5. Doug is NewsCenter 5's co-anchor of the station's weekend morning newscasts. He co-anchors the Saturday morning and Sunday morning newscasts. He also contributes to the weekday EyeOpener newscast as a general assignment reporter. He began his news career as an anchor and reporter at Cape 11 News in South Yarmouth, MA. Meehan grew up in West Yarmouth and attended Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School. He graduated from Westfield State University in Westfield, MA.
Rosemary Heath, is this year’s Honorary Chair. Rosemary's story is tragic but also inspirational. In May 2016, a deranged man went on a killing spree in Taunton and Rosemary and her husband George stood up to save the life of another. Sadly, her beloved George was fatally wounded in the process. Rosemary and others were then saved by Plymouth Sheriff's Deputy James Creed who was in the restaurant with his wife Laura. At our April 2017 Heroes Breakfast, Rosemary presented both Jim and Laura their Life Saving Hero awards in the most inspirational moment of the morning.
Announcing the Class of 2017 Heroes!
Community Impact Hero
David Willard, Orleans
Life Saving Heroes
Robert Robello, Mashpee
Lila Burke, Mashpee
Kathy O’Neill, Mashpee
Paul Hoy, Mansfield
Lance Benjamino, Hanson
Mark Adams, West Yarmouth
Linda Backus, Harwich
Austin Davis, Hyannis
Thomas H. Lanman, III, Cotuit
John McLaughlin, Brockton
Melissa Averinos, West Barnstable
David Sprague, West Tisbury
Professional Heroes
Lt. Matthew Bass, MA Environmental Police
Adam C. Murphy, Ass’t. Harbormaster, Town of Marion
Michael Margulis, Commercial Diver
Jake Avery, Town of Barnstable Lifeguard
Deputy Sheriff Eric Iverson, Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office
Armed Forces Hero
AST 3 Brendan Kiley, USCG Air Station Cape Cod
Community Service Heroes
Lori Miranda, Dennis
Barry Sanders, Taunton
Robert Hollis, Plymouth
Youth Hero
Luke Stringer, Nantucket
Individual with Disabilities Hero
Cory Palazzi, Taunton
Red Cross Volunteer Heroes
Paul & Carol Neuger, Duxbury
-News release: American Red Cross of the Cape, Islands & Southeast MA