Each year, the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter and Marin County civic leaders recognize those in the community who have shown courage, dedication and character through acts of kindness and heroism. Heroes are selected based on the degree to which their acts uphold the values of the American Red Cross and leave a lasting positive impact on the residents of the Bay Area.
Battalion Chief Michael St. John recently nominated two individuals, Saywer Shine and Jim Kelley, both fifth-graders, for the “Act of Kindness and Philanthropy” Red Cross Heroes Award for their selfless acts on February 3, 2012. On this date, the two boys, who are also Boy Scouts, assisted a Mill Valley resident as a two-alarm structure fire threatened a home at 16 Hill Street. The youths assisted the homeowner of the house next door to the fire by removing belongings from the home in case the fire spread. Fortunately, the neighbor’s home did not suffer any fire damage. The boys also assisted the resident by providing care to a pet cat that had escaped the fire.
Chief St. John observed the youths in the field and felt that their actions were in the highest tradition of scouting. On behalf of the Mill Valley Fire Department, Chief St. John nominated Shine and Kelly to receive recognition by the American Red Cross. The nomination was accepted and the boys will be recognized at the Red Cross Heroes Breakfast on April 19, 2012, from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at the Embassy Suites in San Rafael.
The City issued a proclamation for Saywer Shine at the April 16 City Council meeting to thank him for his good citizenship. The Town of Corte Madera is preparing a proclamation for Jim Kelley at an upcoming meeting