American Red Cross Honors Local Heroes
By: Chris Veech
Updated: May 17, 2012
The American Red Cross recognizes local heroes tonight for dedicating their lives to the community and saving lives. The awards banquet was held at the Casino Aztar Conference Center as local heroes were honored in 12 different categories.
This year's keynote speaker was Dave Sanderson. He was a passenger aboard a U.S. Airways Flight 1549 that crashed into the Hudson River of New York in January 2009. Sanderson said he probably would not be here today if not for the emergency rescue individuals who responded to the crash.
"There's leaders on all part of that plane," said Sanderson, "but the real heroes that day were the first responders. The first responders was New York Waterways. But the second was the American Red Cross, and that's why I'm here tonight."
The Red Cross also gave $500 savings bonds to 4 winners of an essay contest, where students wrote about their heroes.
