SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The American Red Cross has selected several central Illinois residents as heroes to be honored during the Saluting Our Heroes Dinner.
The heroes are chosen as those who go above and beyond according to Maria Henneberry, the Regional Communications Director for the American Red Cross Central and Southern Illinois.
“When we were looking for people, we were looking for those stories that really stand out as not someone just making a difference, but sometimes making all the difference,” Henneberry said. “And, the stories are very powerful.”
Eric Arnold, Richard Hess, and Eric Williams are being honored for their actions in helping rescue 26-year-old Laurel Plumer and her grandmother who requires a wheelchair from a house fire.
“That home isn’t there anymore. But, what’s left behind is even more powerful,” Henneberry said.
Karly Rathburn and Shayla Schielein are two 10-year-olds who met in Peoria while going through treatments for Leukemia. The girls decided to hold a blood drive for the Red Cross to show support for others who are in their situation.
“They’re both at the tail end of their treatments, and they talk about the experience of it,” Henneberry said.
Dan Yarbough is a military veteran who has used an electric wheelchair after a severe foot injury during the Vietnam War. He saw how hard it is for some people to access wheelchairs due to expense and availability. He wanted to change that by established Veterans Helping Veterans Helping Community to refurbish and distribute used electric wheelchairs.
“He pays it forward,” Henneberry said.
The Patriot Riders is a central Illinois group of motorcycle enthusiasts with a love for veterans and their families. These riders attend funerals of those who have served. They also help veterans by being called in to assist in home clean outs when there are military memories left behind or home care.
This event brings people together to share the positive stories in the community.
“It’s so easy in the noisy world that we live in to have information just fly by us,” Hennebery said. “So, this effort to really stop for a moment and tell some powerful stories in our own community, not on the internet, but right here in our own community.”
The dinner will be hosted at the Peoria Civic Center at 6:00 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8. Tickets for the event are $150.
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