Red Cross seeks nominees for heroes breakfast

Lindsey Smith and Coleen Moore
Lindsey Smith and Coleen Moore with the Red Cross of the Heartland are requesting nominations for the annual Heroes breakfast on Nov. 2. (Photo by Patti Penn/WJBC)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – Calling all heroes! The Red Cross of the Heartland is requesting nominations for its annual Saluting Our Heroes breakfast on Nov. 2 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bloomington.

The Red Cross’ Major Gift Officer Coleen Moore told WJBC’s Patti Penn they are looking for people or groups whose extraordinary acts of courage and kindness make them a hero and our community a safer and healthier place.

“It’s such a wonderful morning, there’s all kinds of emotions in the ballroom there at the DoubleTree from laughter and joy to tears, tears of joy, tears of sorrow potentially,” Moore said. “You walk out of that morning with the warm and fuzzies.”

Heroes will be honored in seven categories – Armed Forces, Good Samaritan, Health and Safety, Ambassador, Public Service, Volunteer and Youth.

Nominations are due by Aug. 31. Nominations can be submitted on the Red Cross website.

Tickets are $35 each. For tickets, call (309) 662-0500.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…