Hostage survivor to speak at Mar. 19 Heroes Awards Breakfast

timesgazette.com
Saturday, December 21, 2013

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The 2014 Red Cross Heroes Awards Breakfast will honor local heroes for their efforts in saving or improving the lives of others in Highland or Clinton County, and will also feature keynote speaker Jessica Buchanan, a hostage survivor who was abducted while in Somalia.

Buchanan, a Clinton County native, was working as a regional education adviser at the time of her abduction. Following a staff training visit in the field office of South Galkayo, Somalia, Buchanan and one of her colleagues, a Danish citizen, were taken hostage by a group of Somalis.

Buchanan was held hostage between October 25, 2011 and January 25, 2012 — a total of 93 days. Further, according to the Heroes Awards Breakfast invitation, during her time in captivity, Buchanan lived in “deplorable conditions, terrorized by drugged out thugs who demanded a 45 million dollar ransom for her freedom.”

They were rescued by U.S. Navy SEAL Team Six on the night of the State of the Union address.

Buchanan will speak about her experience and different African issues during the eighth annual Clinton and Highland County Heroes Awards Breakfast on March 19, 2014.

“When I heard her story, I felt like sometimes people who have to persevere through challenges are truly heroic in their own way,” said Kelley Robbins, communications coordinator, American Red Cross of Clinton and Highland Counties.

“We met over the summer,” Robbins said, “and I was inspired by her and what she went though. She kept faith and kept fighting to continue on.”

Buchanan will be the first female speaker for the breakfast, attended by hundreds each year.

However, she will not be the only hero in the room.

The public is encouraged to nominate someone whose extraordinary acts or efforts led to saving or improving lives in Clinton or Highland county. Those individuals will be recognized at the breakfast.

The deadline to submit award nominations is Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, but Robbins urges the public to begin nominations now.

The Red Cross is looking for nominations in the following categories:

• Heroes Youth Award - criteria include: 18 years of age or younger; may perform a community service, give back to community in some way, or have a history of helping others; may have committed a heroic act that helped save the life of another individual(s); may have overcome an obstacle in life.

• Heroes Humanitarian Award - criteria include: 18 years of age or older; may have committed a selfless act with no expectation of recognition; may have made a contribution to the local community or another person; may have made a difference in the life or lives of another person or group of people.

• Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award - criteria include: an individual with a lifetime commitment of selfless service to his/her community or others; a person who may be distinguished in his/her occupation or field of interest; possibilities include: leader, educator, civil servant, retired or active member of the armed forces, etc.

• Heroes Emergency Service Award - criteria include: a person distinguished in his/her occupation; committed a heroic act that helped save or dramatically impacted the life of another individual(s); paid or volunteer emergency services personnel.

• Heroes Emergency Action Award - criteria include: a person who may be distinguished in his/her occupation; committed a heroic act that helped save or dramatically impacted the life of another individual(s); good Samaritan.

• Heroes Pet Award - criteria include: a person who may be distinguished in his/her occupation working with animals; may have committed a heroic act that helped save or dramatically impacted the life of an animal or pets; may have made a difference in the life of an animal or pets; may have made a contribution to benefit animals or pets in the local community.

• Pets as Heroes Award - criteria include: pet who may be distinguished in his/her occupation working with people; may have committed a heroic act that helped save or dramatically impacted the life of a person or other animal; may have made a difference in the life of a person; may have made a contribution to benefit people or pets in the local community.

• Heroes Educator Award - criteria include: person or group who is admired for their work with children or adults; may have made a difference in the life or lives of another child, adult, or group of people; may have made a contribution that impacted the local community.

To be considered, nominees must live or work in Highland or Clinton County, and the heroic act for which they are nominated must have occurred between Dec. 31, 2012 and Dec. 31, 2013.

All nominees will be considered, and finalists will be determined for each of the categories. Winners will be announced at the Heroes Awards Breakfast.

The breakfast will take place at the Roberts Center in Wilmington, with doors opening at 7 a.m. and the program beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Self-nominations are not permitted. All nominations will be subject to further verification and validation.

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