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7 People Honored With Red Cross Heroes Award

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Today, seven people from our area were honored for their contributions to society.

They all received the Red Cross Heroes Award in different categories after being selected from community nominations.

They are some of western Pennsylvania's most selfless people and to the Red Cross, they're heroes for going above and beyond what others do.

However, when you ask them about it, they're very humble.

Today, the 2013 American Red Cross Heroes smiled for the camera. It was a slightly nerve-racking experience for some like Sgt. Kevin Faulds.

Faulds received the Professional Responder Hero Award for his speedy response on April 5, when gunfire erupted downtown with 2,000 people nearby. It was the Allegheny County Sherriff's Deputies' actions that prevented those innocent bystanders from injury.

"In my family, they're either nurses, teachers or police officers it's in our blood, it's in our genes, it's in our family. It feels good to help people and be there for people," Sgt. Faulds said.

Naval Petty Officer Bill Gregor also knows about helping people. As a volunteer with his unit, he jumped into action the day a woman suddenly collapsed while at a local food bank. It was instinct for him.

"Coming home after 14 years and back in the civilian life it's a hard transition for anybody to do that after you're set in one way for so many years and then to try and mold back into the civilian world - so this kind of lifts my spirits up a little bit," Gregor said.

These are community nominated awards and it's that same community that Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Chief Darryl Jones said he and the 630 firefighters in the city protect.

"As the leader, I get the privilege to accept the award and I'm grateful for that, but it's not about me. It's not about my efforts alone. If it wasn't for a team effort, none of it would get done," Jones said.

All of the money raised from today's event goes to the Red Cross.

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