GALLIPOLIS — Nominations are in and the first 15 individuals to be designated “everyday heroes” by the Gallia County Chapter of the American Red Cross have been selected.

They will be recognized at the Everyday Heroes breakfast on Thursday, June 18 at 7:30 a.m. in the Gallia County Senior Resource Center.

Chosen as the military hero was veteran and Gallia County Veterans Funeral Detail member Henry Myers, while the education hero is Karen Wright, retiring teacher at River Valley Middle School.

Keith Elliott, a former lieutenant with Gallipolis City Police and now with the State Fire Marshal’s office, was chosen the law enforcement hero. Mark Johnson of the Greenfield Township Volunteer Fire Department is the fire hero, and the lifesaving hero is split between Gallia County sheriff’s deputies Kevin Werry and Scott Darst, Gallipolis volunteer firefighter Brett Saxon and Trooper Nicholas Hoffman of the State Highway Patrol.

The blood drive hero is longtime Gallipolis blood drive volunteer Ellabelle McDonald, and the blood donor hero is Raymond Weiher. Youth hero is Santa Claus (aka Mike Polcyn), while Jessie Payne is the senior citizen hero.

Alva and Bill McCoy are the Good Samaritan heroes, and David West is the community hero.

Modeled on a successful effort in Athens, Everyday Heroes was launched by the local Red Cross to hail individuals who have not only done something brave or extraordinary, but have made a difference in the community.

The breakfast, local Red Cross volunteer Ollie Paxton said, “will honor that longstanding tradition of heroism by recognizing local individuals whose extraordinary acts of courage or kindness make them a hero.

“People in Gallia County make a difference in the lives of others every day,” she continued. “They show kindness and compassion and give of themselves in unexpected ways.”