Local heroes were honored at the Ninth Annual American Red Cross Real Heroes Breakfast at the DoubleTree by Hilton Binghamton Thursday morning. Maggie Gilroy / Staff video
When the Aukema Dairy Farm caught fire in October of 2017, saving the barn’s 65 cows was a community effort.
Among those community members instrumental in rescuing the cows were Thomas Ellis, Asst. Fire Chief Kip Herner, Eric Winsor and Stephen Winsor.
Ellis, a dear friend and neighbor of barn owners Pat and Doug Aukema, was the first to arrive on the scene. He was mowing his lawn when he saw smoke. He arrived just in time to assist with untying and chasing the cows out of the barn
He also was instrumental in coordinating subsequent clean-up activities.
Herner was second on the scene, helping to move baby calves out of the barn and supervise the Chenango Forks Fire Department when they arrived.
Stephen and Eric, owners of a farm 15 minutes from the Aukemas, heard of the fire and headed to the scene. They helped usher the cars into a fenced pasture and began coordinating the loading of the cows onto other farmers’ trailers.
Thanks to the efforts of these four men, all of the cows were saved.
Ellis, Herner, Eric and Stephen were two of several local heroes recognized Thursday morningby the American Red Cross. The pair received the Medical Award, presented to a medical professional, an organization or ordinary citizen whose lifesaving action exemplifies the very highest standards of their calling.
A total of 20 local heroes — the most the Southern Tier Chapter of the American Red Cross has ever recognized — were honored at the ninth annual Real Heroes Breakfast.
The Southern Tier Chapter of the American Red Cross serves Broome, Chenango, Tioga and Tompkins counties. The breakfast honors everyday heroes for real-life heroic actions.
Source: pressconnects.com
