Heroes from around the country recognized

The We Can Be Heroes Foundation hosted its spring Tribute to Our Heroes Brunch at the Salem Centre Auditorium on Saturday, with the room filled to capacity (while observing COVID-19 restrictions).

Unsung heroes from around the country were recognized for their sacrifices for the good of their neighbors, their country and its future. 

The event featured a catered brunch followed by members of the Atlantic Coast Young Marines formally presenting the colors. Many tables were labelled with the names of a veteran or community hero, donated by their loved ones to honor them.

Two special heroes in attendance were Jacksonville World War II veterans Frank Pupura and John Connelly. 

Several Unsung Heroes were specifically recognized by We Can Be Heroes Foundation National Spokesman Ryman Shoaf, including:

• Ponte Vedra’s late Shari Duval, founder of K9s for Warriors, for pairing rescue dogs with more than 650 veterans suffering with PTSD, traumatic brain injury or military sexual trauma;   
• The young founders of Ponte Vedra High School’s Sharks for Heroes, Mason Romero and Jake Simone, for starting the high school chapter and selflessly assisting at veteran and We Can Be Heroes Foundation events;
• Augustine Gulf War National Guard Veteran Carl “Jeff” Lay for continuing his service, even with health issues, by serving with the Veterans Reserve Corps and the American Legion;
• Jacksonville Marine veteran Cliff Leonard, who, over the past 13 years, sculpted 50 bronze busts of fallen service members and presented each sculpture to the service member’s grieving family;
• Delaware Vietnam Veteran Ron Elliott, who transported the remains of service members to their final resting place for more than 40 years;
• Redding, California’s young Preston Sharp for placing flags and flowers on more than 200,000 veterans’ graves;
• Maryland’s Jeannie and Doug Ping for hosting annual picnics for volunteers of a used book store for summer reading programs; and
• Maryland Vietnam-era Veteran and 31-year Little League volunteer George Swanson as the Waldorf League “Go-to-Guy.”

In addition to being recognized at the brunch, each unsung hero was given the foundation’s Unsung Hero Lives Here yard sign.

The event concluded with presentations from Hillsdale College Professor Adam Carrington on America’s freedom and Concerned Veterans for America Coalition Director Jimmie Smith on endless wars.

Sponsors of the event included Americans for Prosperity, Concerned Veterans for America and K9S for Warriors. 

To nominate a hero or to learn more about the We Can Be Heroes Foundation, go to www.WeCanBeHeroesFoundation.org.