Citizen Service Before Self Honors

Single Acts

• Ernie Hahn
  • Murrysville, PA
    Ernie Hahn of Murrysville, Pennsylvania has been recognized for valiantly rescuing a woman and her dog, which had both fallen into an icy lake at Murrysville’s Townsend Park on December 20, 2009. The woman had fallen into the lake while trying to rescue her dog. Hahn waded through eight feet of frigid water with a rope to save the woman and went back to save her dog. Hahn suffers from medical issues because of spending nearly twenty minutes in the icy waters. Eric Hahn’s willingness to risk his own life to save the life of a fellow citizen in an act of selflessness and bravery that continues to be an inspiration and a credit to the state of Pennsylvania and to his fellow Americans.
• Cedrick Hillyer
  • Sioux Falls, SDCedrick Hillyer of Sioux Falls, South Dakota has been recognized for heroically saving the life of an unconscious 8-year-old boy from the rapids of the Big Sioux River on June 16, 2009. The young boy fell accidentally from an overlook near the former Queen Bee Mill and was swept away by the strong current. Without hesitation, Hillyer submerged himself into the rushing waters and grabbed the boy, who was floating face down in the water. Hillyer then handed him to another who helped perform CPR until rescue workers arrived shortly after. Cedrick Hillyer’s act of selflessness and bravery continues to be an inspiration and a credit to the state of South Dakota and to his fellow Americans.
• Bryan Jacobs
  • Justin, TXBryan Jacobs of Justin, Texas has been recognized for saving the life of a woman who had suffered a seizure and was driving out of control on Interstate 35E on January 11, 2010. While driving, Jacobs noticed a vehicle strike the center wall and continue to swerve. After pulling next to her, he observed that a 25-year-old woman was slumped over and unconscious in the passenger seat while the vehicle was still moving at 40 miles per hour. Jacobs pulled in front of her vehicle and used his bumper to slow down both vehicles. He then provided assistance. Bryan Jacobs’ selflessness and bravery in saving the woman’s life and preventing more accidents from occurring continues to be an inspiration and a credit to the state of Texas and to his fellow Americans.
• Amy King
  • Morris, ALAmy King of Morris, Alabama has been recognized for saving an out of control bus filled with 44 children and three adults along a busy Interstate on March 28, 2008. The bus was on a field trip to the Chattanooga Aquarium. The bus suddenly swerved out of control. After seeing the slumped over bus driver, King immediately jumped from her seat, grabbed the steering wheel, and tried to steer the bus back onto the interstate. As she moved the steering wheel, the bus began to fishtail; she was unable to move the bus driver out of his seat and hit the brake. As the bus sideswiped 200 feet of guardrail,, then rolled over and slid on its side coming to rest on its roof, in a drainage ditch, King was thrown through the windshield. Alabama State Troopers said that if King had not acted, the bus would have struck some trees and landed in a ravine with six feet of water. Everyone on the bus survived the accident because of King’s heroic actions. Amy King continues to be an inspiration and a credit to the state of Alabama and to her fellow Americans.
• Michelle Kleisath and Chilan Ta
  • Seattle, WAMichelle Kleisath and Chilan Ta of Seattle, Washington have been recognized for rescuing a disabled woman who fell onto the Metro train tracks in Washington, D.C. on January 13, 2010. While visiting the nation’s capital, Ta and Kleisath were waiting at Union Station Metro station when they heard a cry for help. They ran to the scene where they found a disabled woman laid sprawled on the tracks after her motorized wheelchair had malfunctioned and overturned a few feet away. Kleisath thought to call 911 but realized that there was not enough time to wait for emergency responders to arrive as another train would be approaching soon. Ta ran up the stairs to alert the station manager to stop the incoming train. Kleisath climbed down onto the tracks undeterred by the electric rail. She then enlisted the help of two bystanders to help her lift the woman and her wheelchair to safety. Michelle Kleisath’s and Chilan Ta’s acts of selflessness and bravery continue to be an inspiration and a credit to the state of Washington and to their fellow Americans.
• Thomas McGuire
  • Meriden, CTTom McGuire of Meriden, Connecticut has been recognized for selflessly rescuing several of his neighbors from their burning home on September 14, 2008. Upon hearing screams for help from across the street, McGuire saw his neighbors sitting on a second-floor roof with smoke coming out of the windows. Without thought for his own safety, McGuire grabbed a 20-foot ladder from his truck and raised it to the second-floor roofline. McGuire brought the four people down the ladder to safety. Thomas McGuire’s act of selflessness and bravery continues to be an inspiration and a credit to the state of Connecticut and to his fellow Americans.
• Dylan Nelson
  • Madison, SDDylan Nelson of Madison, South Dakota has been recognized for sacrificing his own life while saving two others in Lake Madison on August 8, 2009. Nelson was swimming with his younger brother and cousin along a sandbar when a strong current pulled them under. After Nelson swam out of the strong current, he saw that this brother and cousin were still trapped. Nelson entered the current, saved his cousin, and brought him closer to shore where a man with a Jet Ski took the cousin to shore. Nelson then returned to rescue his brother, again taking him to the man with the Jet Ski. After that, Dylan went underwater and drowned. Dylan Nelson’s act of extraordinary selflessness and bravery continues to be an inspiration and a credit to the state of South Dakota and to his fellow Americans.
• Peter Procyk
  • Stratford, CTPeter Procyk of Stratford, Connecticut has been recognized for rescuing a drowning motorist trapped inside a car on March 5, 2009. As Procyk was driving home, he passed a car that suddenly disappeared. Procyk turned around and found the missing car had crashed into a marsh. After getting out of his car, he found the vehicle had rolled down a steep embankment and landed on its passenger side. Procyk called 911 then waded through the cold waters where he found a 78-year-old man trapped in his vehicle that was submerged. The man was face up but underwater. Procyk lifted the man out of the car partially so he could breathe. Once the police arrived, Procyk and the police were able to pull the man out of the vehicle and bring him to safety. Peter Procyk’s act of extraordinary selflessness and bravery continues to be an inspiration and a credit to the state of Connecticut and to his fellow Americans.
• Jeffrey Michael Ross
  • Roseville, CAJeffrey Michael Ross of Roseville, California has been recognized for rescuing a semiconscious woman from her sinking vehicle in the Folsom South Canal on July 12, 2009. Ross witnessed a woman lose control of her car and plunge into the Canal in Rancho Cordova, California. He ran to the edge of the canal and saw the vehicle sinking. Ross dove into the murky water and swam towards the vehicle. He opened the vehicle’s window and began loosening the woman’s seatbelt and began helping her out of the sinking vehicle. Suddenly, the vehicle slipped beneath the surface of the water. At the last moment, he was able to free her from the vehicle. Ross along with two other good Samaritans pulled the woman to safety. Jeffrey Michael Ross’ act of extraordinary selflessness and bravery continues to be an inspiration and a credit to the state of California and to his fellow Americans.
• Jeremiah Yates
  • Kimberly, IDJeremiah Yates of Kimberly, Idaho has been recognized for trying to rescue and helping calm two women trapped inside a demolished and burning vehicle on Interstate 84 near Jerome on December 11, 2009. Yates came upon a horrible accident and without thought for his own life crawled into the burning vehicle through a rear window. Unable to reach the two passengers to help them out, he remained in the vehicle to calm one of the women as the other had passed away. Others continued spraying the vehicle with fire extinguishers until the flames died down and extrication equipment could cut the vehicle open to retrieve the two women. Yates spent more than an hour inside the vehicle, part of that time covered with a sheet and fire helmet for his protection. Once retrieved, the second woman passed away. Jeremiah Yates’ act of extraordinary selflessness and bravery continues to be an inspiration and a credit to the state of Idaho and to his fellow Americans.

Series of Acts

• Renee Lita Borstad
  • Willingboro, NJRenee Lita Borstad of Willingboro, New Jersey has been recognized for more than 30 years of protecting citizens through in-depth consumer product investigations, while also selflessly volunteering and providing support to many local nonprofits and community support organizations.She has volunteered countless hours serving on the boards and/or volunteering for Boy Scouts of America (more than 25 years), American Cancer Society, United Way, Beverly Rotary, the Jewish War Veterans, American Veterans of Foreign Wars, National Association of Consumer Affairs, Burlington County Chapter of Muscular Dystrophy, Burlington County College, Burlington County Bar Association, and Jewish Community Relations Council. Renee Lita Borstad’s lifetime of volunteering and protecting consumers continues to be an inspiration and credit to the state of New Jersey and to her fellow Americans.
• Jordy Cox
  • Phoenix, AZDr. Jordy Cox of Phoenix, Arizona has been recognized for his extraordinary selflessness in volunteering and offering his medical skills to perform surgeries that have saved many lives in Haiti, the Congo, and the Ivory Coast. Cox, a trauma surgeon, went to Haiti as part of a team of surgeons from Doctors Without Borders. He joined other medical professionals in treating hundreds who had been injured by a deadly earthquake. During several weeks working non-stop and caring for the injured of Haiti, he performed surgery in the streets with little resources and slept for short periods of time on the ground. Previously with Doctors without Borders, Cox provided medical care in 2008 in the Congo amidst a raging war. He worked non-stop for three weeks, never leaving the hospital, taking short naps between surgeries, and performing surgery as bombs exploded outside the operating room. Dr. Jordy Cox’s willingness to travel to other countries to help others and save many lives continues to be an inspiration and a credit to the state of Arizona and to his fellow Americans.
• Joe Fitzgerald
  • Huntsville, ALJoe Fitzgerald of Huntsville, Alabama has been recognized for his extraordinary efforts to honor WWII Veterans by enabling them to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC. Fitzgerald founded, organized, and raised several hundred thousands of dollars to take WWII Veterans on day trips to see the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC as part of the his Tennessee Valley Honor Flight. So far, more than 1,000 WWII Veterans have taken the trip because of Fitzgerald’s efforts. He charters the planes, arranges for medical treatment, if needed, and organizes all events in Washington, DC and Huntsville, Alabama. He also founded “Honor Flags,” a program to transport the burial flags of WWII Veterans who have died before seeing their memorial. The flags are returned to the families accompanied by a certificate from Honor Flight indicating that the flag was presented and the serviceman or woman was recognized at the WWII Memorial. More than 200 have been recognized through this Program. Joe Fitzgerald continues to be an inspiration and a credit to the state of Alabama and to his fellow Americans.
• S. Buddy Harris
  • Boca Raton, FLS. Buddy Harris of Boca Raton, Florida has been recognized for a lifetime of serving others from disaster relief victims to military serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. For Hurricane Katrina victims, Harris organized and delivered more than 40,000 “Meals Ready to Eat” (MREs) and 3,000 pizza slices to residents of a retirement community who had not eaten in more than 50 hours, and collected another 20,000 pounds of food and supplies. He also saved two lives and assisted in 26 first responder assists. As a director of the Support Our Troops program, Harris has arranged the shipment of hundreds of care packages, thousands of Christmas cards, tens of thousands of ‘for return’ Valetine cards, and tons of personal-needs supplies for our troops. In recognition of his service, he has received numerous awards, including the Call to Service Award from President George W. Bush in 2007 and the 1962 President John F. Kennedy Commendation. S. Buddy Harris continues to be an inspiration and a credit to the state of Florida and to his fellow Americans.
• Ranya Kelly
  • Wheat Ridge, CORanya Kelly of Wheat Ridge, Colorado has been recognized for devoting a lifetime of service to others by volunteering more than 43,000 community service hours of time in addition to founding a nonprofit Redistribution Center Inc. to assist others. Kelly has distributed more than $41 million in new household goods, furniture, building supplies, school supplies, food, and clothing to those in need. As founder of a nonprofit, Redistribution Center Inc., she has provided assistance to approximately 400 families and individuals each month. Additionally, she has distributed more than 300 new beds to Traumatic Brain Injured / Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder soldiers in addition to providing furnishings and household items for their homes. Ranya Kelly’s lifetime of service to others continues to be an inspiration and a credit to the state of Colorado and to her fellow Americans.
• Stetson Kennedy
  • St. Augustine, FLStetson Kennedy of St. Augustine, Florida has been recognized for spending a lifetime actively advocating on behalf of those suffering from denial of basic human rights from his 1931 organization of an inter-racial student organization in the Deep South to his 2009 participation in a march protesting physical mistreatment and economic plight of migrant workers. As an investigative journalist and historian, he has exposed injustice and exploitation at home and abroad. At great risk to himself and his family, he infiltrated a score of domestic racist terrorist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan, gathering actionable evidence which put a number of their leaders in jail, revoked their charters, and curbed terrorist violence.For more than three quarters of a century, Kennedy has taken part in struggles against war, totalitarianism, peonage, disfranchisement, chain gangs, infant mortality, unattended illness, homelessness, unemployment, and denial of educational opportunity. Kennedy continues to actively stump for freedom. Stetson Kennedy’s lifetime of advocacy on behalf of those who have been denied basic human rights continues to be an inspiration and credit to the state of Florida and to his fellow Americans.
• Bill and Shalini Madaras
  • Wilton, CTBill and Shalini Madaras of Wilton, Connecticut have been recognized for their commitment to serving others through two sustaining causes: Kick for Nick and Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes (FSFG). After losing their son to a roadside bomb on September 3, 2006, the Madaras have continued fulfilling his mission: Kick for Nick, by distributing soccer balls to Iraqi and Afghani children as an opportunity for soldiers to connect with the children they safeguard—encouraging kindness, fellowship and peace among both the local and U.S. military communities. To date, 28,713 soccer balls have been distributed as well as numerous pairs of cleats and other soccer gear. General David Petraeus and other senior military have commented on the significant impact the project is having.Additionally, the Madaras fulfill another cause, which they started: Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes (FSFH) and are determined to establish Connecticut’s first transitional supportive housing facility exclusively for female veterans, who are homeless and are having trouble returning to civilian life. The Madaras’s goal is to raise awareness about this need and to get the community to become involved and take the responsibility to become partners in this project. Bill and Shalini Madaras’ commitment to serving others is an inspiration and a credit to the state of Connecticut and to their fellow Americans.
• Joyce Rothermel
  • Pittsburgh, PAJoyce Rothermel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has been recognized for helping improve the overall welfare of others throughout the Greater Pittsburgh Region. As CEO and co-founder of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Rothermel helps provide more than 110,000 people per month with food by engaging the entire community in the fight against hunger. She has cultivated more than 10,000 volunteers and collaborated with hundreds of corporations, agencies, nonprofits, foundations, small businesses, and individual donors. When she became executive director, she refused a salary until the Board prevailed on her to accept a small salary.Beyond the Food Bank, she has received many awards for her service: the 2009 YWCA Tribute to Women Award in Human Services, 2007 Pennsylvania Distinguished Daughter, and 2006 Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger recognition for 25 years of service. Joyce Rothermel’s dedication to fighting hunger and providing for others continues to be an inspiration and credit to the state of Pennsylvania and to her fellow Americans.
• Robert Sheridan
  • Boston, MARobert L. Sheridan of Boston, Massachusetts has been recognized for selflessly volunteering his medical skills to perform surgeries that have saved many lives in Haiti. Before the earthquake, he was already volunteering in Cange, Haiti with the organization Partners in Health to treat poor Haitian children. After the earthquake, he was one of a few surgeons left who could immediately perform emergency trauma surgery. He has treated hundreds of patients with minimal equipment and limited supplies and continues to work there tirelessly to help as many as he can. In addition, he has volunteered for charitable medical duties during many other crises such as 9/11 and aboard the U.S.N.S. Mercy during the tsunami in Indonesia. He has helped to set up relationships with Honduras, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua to assist children who are seriously burned that allow them to be treated free of charge at the Shriners Burns Hospital. Dr. Robert Sheridan continues to be an inspiration and a credit to the state of Massachusetts and to his fellow Americans.
• Judy Williams
  • Charlotte, NCJudy Williams of Charlotte, North Carolina has been recognized for developing a support system, Mothers of Murdered Offspring (MOM-O), for mothers and families experiencing the loss of a child to violence, in addition to developing an awareness campaign against domestic violence, National Purple Ribbon Campaign.As co-founder of MOM-O, Williams used her personal funds to finance the organization. She has helped a countless number of mothers and families during their time of sorrow and grief by attending thousands of funeral services, memorial services and special events. Over the past 17 years, Williams has personally designed keepsakes for families to help keep their loved ones memory alive as part of her In Memory of Keepsakes Services organization. Additionally, she helped start the National Purple Ribbon Campaign, a domestic violence awareness program. Judy Williams’ commitment to supporting families and the organization’s efforts to end violence is an inspiration and a credit to the state of North Carolina and to her fellow Americans.