To help to celebrate Red Cross Month, The First Capital District Chapter of the American Red Cross is again holding its Annual Heroes’ Banquet on March 15.

“The Annual Heroes’Banquet gives us an opportunity to celebrate local hometown heroes that do great works that may go unnoticed,” said Mary McCord, Executive Director of the First Capital District Chapter.

Heroes are nominated by members of the community and are divided into ten different categories. These nominees are then presented to a committee comprised of Red Cross board members for selection.

This year’s heroes are:

  • Animal Hero - “Wilson” is a certified therapy dog, who offers care and comfort to individuals who are mourning the death of loved ones. Wilson works at the Fawcett-Palmer Funeral Home. When not working, Wilson lives with Jon and Kim Palmer.
  • Community Hero - Kim Sexton goes out of her way, not only for her friends, but for people she barely knows. She devotes countless hours to the youth of our community.
  • Education Hero - Dr. Barbara A. Mahaffey has dedicated her life to helping others. She volunteers countless hours for a number of organizations. As a professor at Ohio University - Chillicothe, she teaches her students to serve the community by her example.
  • Group Hero - Knit & Crochet for Ross County Kids are a group of ladies that meet each Thursday morning to knit and crochet hats and gloves for Ross County kids. Last year, they partnered with the Chillicothe Jaycees and provided 1,000 handmade items to the Jaycees for distribution.
  • Healthcare Hero - Regina Takacs is a Registered Pharmacist. She works full time at Wal-Mart in Chillicothe. She also finds time to work at the Hope Clinic on Monday evenings. She offers assistance to low-income individuals and families finding ways for them to obtain needed prescriptions.
  • Military Hero - MAC Chief Petty Officer Mack Steinbrook has been in the military for more than 18 years. He has done tours in Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan, where he has been for the last eight months.
  • Public Safety Award - Roger Swaney is a charter member of the Jefferson Township Fire Department, which was organized in 1936.  Roger continues to serve the community as an EMT and firefighter and continues to make the majority of the calls in his area.
  • Senior Hero - R. Arlan Cox volunteers a large portion of his time and energy on a daily basis actively serving on numerous boards and with several organizations.
  • Workplace Hero - Traci Harris is Community Impact Coordinator at United Way of Ross County. Traci coordinates the program to provide free income tax filing help to low and moderate income individuals and families, conducts financial literacy programs for children at local summer camps, and coordinates programming for the new Ross County Hunger Coalition.
  • Youth Hero - Barbee Graves is an outstanding young woman. As a senior at Southeastern High School, she is involved in organizing Red Cross Blood Drives and in Veteran Awareness activities.
  • Special Recognition Hero - John Bowan was working as a busboy at Hana Japanese Steakhouse and came to the aid of a young man who was choking using the techniques he learned in scouting.
  • Special Recognition Hero - Melvin Parks will receive a Special Recognition Award for courageously coming to the aid of a woman whose wheelchair was stuck in railroad tracks only seconds before a train passed.
  • Ruby Flynn Award - Dan Ramey and Mike Smith, of WBEX, will receive this award that is given to an individual or group who promotes blood services in our community. Dan and Mike hold two large media drives each year and promote all Red Cross programs all year long.

The special guest speaker for this year’s event, Ms. Zoe Jackson is a native of Kentucky. Her daily performance at the Frazier Museum in Louisville depicts women from 1777 to 1945 as nurses, spies, and activists. Jackson has been a professional actress since age 11 and holds a degree in Mass Communications and Broadcasting from Stephens College. She will deliver a a performance celebrating the life of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross.

The 10th Annual Heroes’ Banquet will be held at St. Peter’s Parish Hall, 285 W. Second St., on Friday, March 15. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the event beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets can be obtained for a $25 donation at the new Red Cross headquarters, 181 N. Bridge St. For more information, call 740-772-2014.