This is a press release courtesy of the Oregon Pacific Chapter of the American Red Cross

It's hard to imagine a world without heroes.  Everyday Heroes are the backbone of every hometown and touch our lives each day - making us feel safe, making us feel proud.  The Oregon Pacific Chapter of the American Red Cross needs your help to identify and recognize these everyday, ordinary people who have performed extraordinary acts of compassion and/or life-saving.

Who is a hero to you…a family member, pet, friend, neighbor, client, or colleague?  Please take this opportunity to show your appreciation of our Everyday Heroes here in Lane County by sharing their stories!   Your local Red Cross will be honoring heroes in seven different categories:

Adult Hero:  Presented for compassionate response or life-saving skills that made an outstanding difference in, or saved the lives of, others.

Youth Hero:  (Age 18 & Under) Presented for compassionate response or life-saving skills that made an outstanding difference in, or saved the lives of, others.

Professional Rescue Hero:  Presented to a professional or volunteer trained in professional rescue (law enforcement, EMT, firefighter, search & rescue, etc) whose compassionate response or life-saving actions went above and beyond the call of duty.

Medical Hero:  Presented to a professional or volunteer trained in the medical profession whose life-saving actions went above and beyond the call of duty.

Military Hero:  Presented to a member of the armed forces (active, retired, commissioned, or non-commissioned) whose actions went above and beyond the call of duty.

Animal Hero:  Presented to an animal whose trained or innate skills helped save a life.

Community Partner Hero:  Presented to a business or organization whose compassion or life-saving actions made an outstanding difference in the lives of others.

Nomination Forms are due by January 12, 2009.

All of our Everyday Heroes Nominees will be recognized as Heroes on our website and sent a nice letter telling them why they were nominated for an Everyday Hero award.  Our Everyday Heroes Award Winners will be selected in January by a committee of our community leaders.  Videos of their stories will be made by 99 Productions.  The Award Winners will be celebrated and the videos played at the Lane County Everyday Heroes Luncheon, March 12, 2009 at 12:00 p.m. at the Valley River Inn.  This event is free to the public, but RSVPs are required.

More information about and Nomination Forms for our Everyday Heroes event can be found on the chapter's Web site.