As if prom wasn’t special enough, one Maryland woman made a big sacrifice for a group of teens she never met. When Therese de Leon and her other 10 friends went to a restaurant on prom night, they were shocked to discover a total stranger paid for their entire meal. During all the excitement, however,… View more
It’s been 75 years since meat rationing ended in the U.S. on this day in 1944. Although rationing doesn’t seem imminent in our future, we can all give thanks to Americans who found a way to do with less during World War II – all for a greater cause. Whether it was food, gasoline, steel… View more
Everyone knows veterans deserve our respect and help. A group of Missouri firefighters recently took time to remind everyone just how much. The fire department in Raytown, Missouri (pop. 30,000) shared a touching post of their crew pushing a veteran home whose wheelchair battery had died. According to the Kansas City Star, Deputy Chief Mike… View more
Tales of extreme perseverance abound at every Boston Marathon. Yesterday you’d be hard-pressed to find courage greater than that of Micah Herndon. Herndon, 31, physically pulled his worn body across the finish line in a heroic, never-give-up style which captivated onlookers. Herndon ran the race in honor of three friends who were killed by an… View more
By Tom Konecny A Michigan couple celebrating retirement wanted to give proper credit for the careers and freedoms they enjoyed, so they held a party to give back to veterans. Daniel and Lori Kleinow of Carleton invited 200 guests to attend their “Return the Favor Party.” Instead of gifts, they asked attendees to bring non-perishable… View more
Almost 125,000 nurses ensured the nation had enough care for its citizens at home and abroad during World War II, and now a bipartisan bill would grant them honorary veteran status. The U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act was re-introduced by several U.S. senators last week which would classify the corps as having had… View more
These days it’s not uncommon to see headlines of World War II veterans passing away. What’s less ordinary is to find WWII veterans coming home. That’s what happened when Pfc. Clifford M. Mills was buried 75 years after his death in 1944. He had been considered Missing in Action since 1944 after his glider crashed… View more
The idiom, big things come in small packages, may not have originated with 8-year-old Kaylee Byers – but she sure lives by it. As a second grader in Palmyra, Pennsylvania, she has no ties to the law enforcement world. Still, Kaylee wants to help them. Her fervor started as a mere 5-year-old, when she posed… View more
By Tom Konecny Preston Sharp says he won’t stop honoring veterans until he can’t bend down anymore. That’s a noble statement for anyone, but chances are that’s going to be a while – Preston’s only 13. His passion started before that. While visiting the grave of his grandfather at age 10 in his hometown of… View more
Sacrifice is a common thread in any sport. But you’d be hard-pressed to find someone making a sacrifice that benefits an opponent, let alone a rival – and with a championship on the line. That’s exactly what happened in a wrestling tournament in New York between high school students Marek Bush and Logan Patterson, two… View more
By Tom Konecny With founders like Muhammad Ali, Jeff Gordon, Andre Agassi and Mario Lemieux, Athletes for Hope was destined to become a success. Its star power-backing and dedicated staffers have made a major impact on community and charitable causes in its 13-year existence. With a mission to educate, encourage and assist athletes in their… View more
As it turns out, the United States is a very giving nation – and there’s even data to prove it. It’s a fact established each year by the World Giving Index (WGI). In a report using data gathered by Gallup and published by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), the United States ranks No. 4 in… View more
By Tom Konecny One-third of Americans who make New Year’s resolutions admit they have unrealistic goals. That same one-third doesn’t track their progress, and a further 23 percent forgets about their goals. This apathy should come as no surprise. If you’re a regular gym-goer, you know how crowded equipment gets every January 2; later that… View more
By Tom Konecny There’s no greater gift than to lay down your life for another. Thankfully, America was built on self-sacrifice – it’s ingrained in our DNA – and among the most touching stories of sacrifice involve strangers. If you remember the Air Florida Flight 90 crash in 1982, you’ll recall one of the most… View more
By Tom Konecny Christmas 1944 was a day of peace for most. For Lt. John Fox, it was the last full day of his life. Just a few hours into December 26, he would make the ultimate sacrifice for members of his unit. And yet, his extraordinary story wouldn’t be recognized until 53 years later… View more
