Red Cross Honors Local Heroes at Annual Breakfast

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HYANNIS – Local residents who have helped to save or change the lives of others were honored Wednesday at the annual American Red Cross Cape, Islands and Southeastern Massachusetts Heroes Breakfast at The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis.

Dozens were honored after being nominated by members of the community for performing selfless acts. The stories of the heroic acts were told by presenters.

“It’s just amazing the way people do their jobs or just help somebody in need whether it puts their life in danger or not,” said Hilary Greene, the executive director of the local chapter of the Red Cross.

This year’s Public Service Hero was Casey Sherman, who co-authored “The Finest Hours.” Sherman was honored for telling the story of the 1952 Coast Guard rescue off the coast of Chatham that saved the lives of crew members of the sinking tanker Pendleton. The book was made into a Disney feature film of the same name which was released in theaters this past January.

Sherman said the event shows the legacy of real local heroes.

“I write about heroes in the past and in the present. These are heroes, really, of the future,” Sherman said. “Young people that have done incredible things without any concern for their own wellbeing or their own safety. It was really inspiring to hear these stories today.”

There were seven lifesaving heroes honored along with several first responders and multiple Coast Guard crews from Air Station Cape Cod.

The event also raised $47,000 for the local chapter of the Red Cross.

Here is the complete list of this year’s honorees:

Red Cross Public Service Hero:

Casey Sherman

Community Impact Hero:

Dorothy Savarese and David Willard, Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank Charitable Foundation Trust

Life Saving Heroes:

Dr. Douglas Mann, Falmouth

Chuck Martinsen, Falmouth

Jeff Handler, Harwichport

Rebecca Goss, South Dennis

Lucy MacDonald, Rochester

Kristin Von Flatern, Shrewsbury

Christine Saurette, Fall River

Professional Heroes: 

Barnstable County Sheriff’s Department: Captain David Grenier, Marstons Mills; Deputy Jason Bumpus, Plymouth; Deputy Joseph Virden, Lakeville; Deputy Courtney Michonski, Hyannis; and Deputy Daniel Lynch, Wareham.

Easton Firefighters Stephen Gellman, North Easton; Thomas Baker, West Bridgewater; Jason Healey, South Easton; David McRae, Raynham; Lawrence Machado III, Raynham; and Robert Powell, Taunton; Center School Elementary Principal Ann Weintrob and Nurse Colleen Clark.

Armed Forces Heroes:

USCG Air Station Cape Cod 2309 Crew:

Lt. Jamison Ferriell, Plymouth; Lt. Erik Price, Marstons Mills; AMT3 Eric Woods, Mashpee; and AMT3 Christopher Lelyo, East Falmouth.

USCG Air Station Cape Cod CGNR 6033 Crew:

Lt. John Hess, Kodiak, AK; Lt. Matthew Vanderslice, Sitka, AK; AMT2 Derrick Suba, Buzzards Bay; and AMT3 Evan Staph, East Falmouth.

Youth Hero:

Katie Curran, Pocasset

Individual with Disabilities Hero:

Michael Manoogian, Harwich

Community Service Heroes: 

John Norman, Marston Mills & Michael Moynihan, Centerville

Kristen Brock, Nantucket

LCDR Douglas Page, Swansea

Denise Brack, Kingston

Donald Cox, West Barnstable

By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter