We join the Red Cross in saluting area residents who have saved lives or given selflessly to enhance other people's lives.
The American Red Cross of Central and Northern Missouri honored these "local heroes" Wednesday night during the annual Heroes Dinner at Capitol Plaza Hotel.
Among those in our readership area who were honored were:
Longtime KRCG Anchorman Dick Preston received the Heart of a Hero Award. He has emceed the event for the past two decades.
Sgt. Dave Echternacht of the Missouri Highway Patrol was given the Law Enforcement Award for saving a boat racer during the Shoot Out Boat Race at the Lake of the Ozarks in August. The driver lost control of his boat, going more than 100 mph, went airborne and slammed back down on the water, throwing the driver from the boat. Echternacht saw the driver floating face down in the water. He turned the victim on his back and opened his airway, thereby saving his life.
Adam Brunk, of Holts Summit, and Jacob Ellis, a Westminster College student and football player, were honored with the Good Samaritan Award for saving a Kingdom City couple after a fiery auto crash.
Ed Savage of the Regional West Fire Protection District won the Emergency Medical Assistance Award for rescuing a young Jefferson City woman who was clinging to a tree during a flash flood.
DaMia Day, of Jefferson City, was recognized with the Good Samaritan Award for using her dancing and singing talents to bring joy to others. She volunteers at day cares and helps put on holiday programs. She uses her talents for children at House of Refuge Church nursery and for patients at St. Mary's Hospital, where he mother works in food services.
Klif Bullard of the Southern Boone County Fire Protection District received the Firefighter Hero Award. Last September, a young woman hiking on Devil's Backbone at Rock Bridge State Park lost her balance and fell 30 feet down a cliff, suffering brain trauma. Bullard led the rescue effort, getting the girl safely up the cliff to medical personnel. Today, the hiker has recovered fully from her injuries.
Thomas Ward was given the Dr. Charles Drew Blood Services Award for donating more than 20 gallons of blood to the Red Cross since the 1970s. Each unit of blood can save up to three lives, and Red Cross officials said because of Ward's donations, he may have saved as many as 480 lives.
Central Missouri residents are known for their kindness and generosity. However, it's incidents like this - when individuals give selflessly of themselves, many times disregarding their own safety - that we should be proud to live here.