The Iowa and Nebraska chapters of the American Red Cross are searching for heroes in the two states who will be recognized at the Iowa-Nebraska football game on November 28th in Iowa City. Kara Kelly, a spokeswoman for the Red Cross in Iowa, says there are plenty of heroes out there who deserve a little recognition and the deadline for nominations is next week.
“We’re looking for people who really go above and beyond or have done a life-saving act,” Kelly says. Last year, the two Red Cross chapters got more than 50 nominations from both states. “This is the 4th year of the Hy-Vee Heroes game, it started with the first game between Nebraska and Iowa,” Kelly says. “So far, it’s been very successful and we’ve had the opportunity to meet and honor some really amazing people.”
One hero from each state will be singled out for a presentation on the 50-yard line on game day. She says last year’s hero from Iowa was Mike Klemmensen.
“The 2013 hero was a young man from Hinton, Iowa, who is a firefighter with the 185th Fighter Wing (of the Iowa National Guard),” Kelly says. “He is really a phenomenal guy. He ran into his neighbor’s house, which was burning, and rescued all of the family members inside.”
Last year’s Nebraska hero was Caleb Amundson of Fairbury. He helped save the life of a driver whose pontoon boat and truck landed in Harlan County Lake on Labor Day last year. The deadline for entries is October 14th. Nominate someone online at www.hy-vee.com or at www.redcross.org.
(Reporting by, Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City)