Overheard: Impulse 79

It was the most heroic thing I’ve ever seen. Sometimes, people call us heroes. And in this instance, in no way were we the hero. Mikala deserves all the credit. — Fire lieutenant who responded to the scene of a burning apartment after the rescue of three of her children by Mikala Vish, Carnegie Medal recipient #10325

All I can say is this guy was supposed to live. I’m a man of faith, and I’ve learned to listen to your gut and the prompting you get. The Lord wanted him alive. Things could have gone different a million different directions, but things worked out on his behalf. That’s my conclusion. Whether it was me or someone else, he was supposed to live. – Brandon Bair, Carnegie Medal recipient #10307

Everyone can be a hero every single day. You never really know what’s going to happen to you. — Eyewitness to actions of Jose M. Pichardo, Carnegie Medal recipient #10354

I’m not surprised, but very proud to see a citizen help out another citizen. It’s nice to see people still willing to help each other out. — Police officer who responded to scene where Jordan B. Kurtzer, Carnegie Medal recipient #10377, removed an unconscious driver from a submerging pickup truck

There was no way I was gonna leave that boy in that truck, no way, not an option. If it calls for my life, so be it. I wasn’t gonna leave him. — Joseph D. Donnell, Carnegie Medal recipient #10380

Anybody who knows anything about Tony, it’s surprising that he passed away, but when you hear the story about how he passed away, I don’t think it’s really surprising to anyone. — Friend of Anthony Diehl, Carnegie Medal recipient #10383

Their act of heroism is truly a reflection of their character. They loved their family so much. — Widow of Christopher Novecosky, Carnegie Hero #10426, who, with Carnegie Medal recipient #10427 Joseph Novecosky, drowned attempting to save their two nieces

I had front row seats to a miracle. — Stephen D. Rhodes, Carnegie Medal recipient #10385

“As cops, we’re not trained to run into fire. Technically we weren’t supposed to be there. But we had to try. There was someone in there.” — Stephen Harder, Carnegie Medal recipient #10414