Heroes: Here, There, and Everywhere
Lion Ruth Heaney
Heroes. They are here in the Catoctin High Student Government Association and Unified Generation Club. Together, these clubs hosted an event, netting $5,000 to benefit the Special Olympics of Maryland.
There are dogs and people who work together to perform heroic acts. One example is Trakr, a German Shepherd, and his handler. Together, they located the last survivor of the 9/11 attack. According to www.firerescue1.com, more than 300 dogs were used in the 9/11 rescue efforts. Toby, a Golden Retriever, kept a Maryland woman from losing consciousness when an apple got lodged in her throat. The American Kennel Association lists Toby as one of the 10 real-life tales of heroic dogs.
Then, there is Anita, a Golden Retriever, who is a Hero Dog to Joe. Joe is a Veteran four-year Marine Corp magazine gunner and a former firefighter in Montgomery County. Anita and Joe came together through Hero Dog, Inc., a Maryland 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Their mission is to improve “…the quality of life of our nation’s heroes …” and to enhance “… the services of community organizations by placing assistance dogs with customized training and lifetime support.” Anita is a hero to Joe. Good days are good, but bad days can also become good days as Anita allows Joe to go out and do the things he wants to do.
Everyone is invited to meet Joe and Anita at the Thurmont Lions Club meeting on September 12. This is a chance to sit back and watch as Joe explains and demonstrates the role of Anita in his life. The special bond between Joe and Anita is heartwarming.
There are other heroes, past and present. There is the first-known female firefighter, Molly Williams, “who took her place with the men on drag-ropes during the blizzard of 1818.” According to www.firerescue1.com, it is a reminder that people from all walks of life—Army Special Forces, Marine and Vietnam Veterans, volunteer firefighters, a WTC maintenance worker, NYPD, a president of a Medical Device company—were heroes on that fateful day.
There are firefighters and other personnel away from their families for unknown periods of time as they battle the Park Fire. It began on July 25, 2024, near Chico, California, and is still affecting lives in four different California counties.
Save September 25th for Chip Jewell, an accomplished man, active in Frederick County fire/rescue service. He served on the command staff for the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. Mr. Jewell will dress in past firefighter’s uniforms and share his knowledge from his 2022 book History of Fire Companies in Frederick County, Maryland. This is an evening for the family.
Both these events are free and open to the public at the St. John’s Lutheran Church, located at 15 N. Main Street in Thurmont.
Come join the fun at 6:30 p.m. Meet Joe, Anita, and Chip Jewell—heroes in Maryland!
