The American Red Cross Olympic Peninsula Chapter announced it will honor eight heroes and a group of volunteers at the 2013 Olympic Peninsula Heroes Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 7, from 6-9 p.m. at 7 Cedars Casino in Sequim.

“The Heroes Dinner is a crucial part of the Red Cross in the Olympic Peninsula,” said Michelle Kelley, Executive Director of the Olympic Peninsula Chapter. “We take this time every year to honor those in our community who have gone above and beyond. This year’s heroes are no exception. Every one of them deserves special recognition for coming to the aid of others.”

The annual dinner raises critical funds to help support local Red Cross programs and services. 7 Cedars Casino is this year’s Leadership Sponsor and Green Crow is the Sustaining Sponsor. Award sponsors for the event include Columbia Bank, First Federal and Dr. John Skow & Jeanne Skow.

Award recipients

Jaime Armitage and Wayne Brown will be honored with the Good Samaritans Award for helping three canoers out of the water in Dungeness Bay. They brought them aboard their own boat and back to safety on the shore.

Dave Herndon, a retired EMT, will be given the Medical Rescue Award for saving the life of his friend Ron during a pickleball game. Dave was able to perform effective CPR and resuscitate him.

The Dedication to Disaster Relief Special Recognition will be given to the Red Cross volunteers in the Olympic Peninsula who have deployed to disasters over the past year, including efforts after Super Storm Sandy and the tornadoes in Oklahoma. Recipients are Colin Anable, Zane Beall, Denise Bergeron, Mike Blair, Diane Bommer, Roger Drake, Don Dybeck, Wayne Foth, Jamie Goodwin, Betty Hendricks, Frank Keener, Ryan Ollerman, Janet Parris, Marianne Ude, Shirley Williams and Don Zanon.

Police Officer Steffen Estep, Fish & Wildlife Officer John Gresham and Police Officer Don Kitchen, of the Elwha Police Department, will be honored with the Emergency Response Award for their rescue response during last year’s Paddle to the Quinault. Over the course of the journey, many canoes tipped over and these officers were able to save the canoers from the water.

The Compassion in Action Award will be given to Jim Klarr, a light operations manager for the city of Port Angeles, for saving a teenage girl as she attempted to jump off the Eighth Street Bridge over Tumwater Truck Route.

Brian Kienle will be honored with the Water Rescue Award for using his paddleboard to save three people who were drifting quickly into Admiralty Inlet.