BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Those who have served our country and continue to serve the community will be honored for their heroism in the region.
The American Red Cross is looking for nominations for its 2025 Pennsylvania Rivers Celebration of Heroes.
The third annual American Red Cross Lehigh Valley Heroes Breakfast will honor veterans, service members, and members of the community who have demonstrated heroism through extraordinary acts of courage and kindness.
“The end goal is to celebrate our wonderful heroes while raising vital funds for the Red Cross."Red Cross event specialist Ashley Britton
On the receiving end of the awards from the Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter of the Red Cross will be five area veterans, said Ashley Britton, a Red Cross event specialist.
The celebration will be at 7:15 a.m. March 14 at Olympus Corporation of America. People can nominate a hero or buy tickets at Red cross.org/lvheroes.
“The end goal is to celebrate our wonderful heroes while raising vital funds for the Red Cross. We have several award categories," Britton said.
They are:
- First Responder Veteran Hero Award
- Veteran Employment Award
- Wounded Veteran and Military Caregiver Award
- Veteran Hero
- Good Samaritan Hero
'There when you need it'
“The Good Samaritan Hero [award] is a broad one. We've had veterans who have started nonprofits that are helping other veterans. We've had people in the community who collect donations for veterans," Britton said.
"We've also had nominees who just have a high focus on hiring veterans if they have a business, things like that. So really, if there's a focus on veterans, we can usually find a way to find a category they fit in.”
Heroic actions for which people are nominated should have occurred between Jan. 1 and Nov. 10, 2024. The deadline to nominate someone is Nov. 10.
“Just like the Red Cross is there when you need it — you never know when you're going to need our services — you never know when a hero is going to be there,” Britton said.
“Them stepping in and potentially putting their life on the line, or even just stepping in to do a good deed, it's what makes our community continue to go around.
"And it's why the Red Cross is here to be ready to step in at the same time.”
Britton said the Red Cross has tons of ways to get involved, not only in this event, but across the Red Cross organization, and they are always looking for additional volunteers.
