User talk:National Heroes Day United States/sandbox

The first-ever National Heroes Day in the United States was officially introduced into 116th Congressional Record on July 20, 2020 by Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) with co-sponsors Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO), Congressman Scott Tipton (R-CO, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Michael San Nicolas (Guam, At-Large). It is House Resolution 1051.

National Heroes Day was established to recognize every day heroes in the United States whose heroic actions often go unnoticed. The Day honors those extraordinary individuals throughout our 50 states who are role models for others: whose selfless acts have saved lives, who fight bravely against impossible odds and who light the path for others by setting a shining example.

In introducing the Resolution, Congressman Perlmutter, also praised the late Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), as well as all those on the frontlines battling COVID-19.

Inspiration
This Day was inspired by the true heroes of the Aurora theater mass shooting whose brave actions preserved life on July 20, 2012 but whose actions were never honored, and especially the two military and two civilian young men -- John Larimer, Jonathan Blunk, Matt McQuinn and Alex Teves -- who sacrificed their lives saving others. When reading the National Heroes Day Resolution into the Congressional Record, Congressman Ed Perlmutter honored these four young men.

Jonathan Blunk, 26, had served his country in three tours in the Middle East, before he died on July 20, 2012. His desire was to become a Navy Seal. He was at the theater with a girlfriend when the shooting began and immediately pushed her under the seats which saved her life. He was shot multiple times, suffering a fatal gunshot wound to his heart.

John Larimer, 27, was a Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class and cryptologic technician with high-level clearance who was helping to protect America. He had been stationed at the U.S. Fleet Cyber Command at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora for only about a year before his heroic act. He was murdered protecting his girlfriend and friend inside the Aurora theater during the mass shooting, jumping into action to protect them once the shooting began.

Matt McQuinn, 27, was in love with his girlfriend and wanted to marry and start a family. When the shooting began, he laid on top of his girlfriend to keep her from harm when he was pummeled with bullets. She was shot but survived. He was shot nine times, the most of anyone in the theater.

Alex Teves, 24, born and spent his early years in New Jersey before moving to Arizona and then onto Colorado to the University of Denver where he earned a masters in psychology the month before he was killed. He counseled kids who faced unique learning/emotional challenges at Humanex Academy. He was murdered inside the theater after pulling his girlfriend down to safety, leaving himself exposed as bullets flew; one hit him in the forehead as he whispered comforting words of love. Afterwards, his parents, Caren and Tom, began the No Notoriety movement asking -- for the sake of public safety -- that the media stop concentrating so much on the shooters in its coverage. That stance is widely endorsed by this nation’s law enforcement.

Supporters
On July 20, 2020, as Congressman Ed Perlmutter introduced House Resolution 1051 with his co-sponsors, every day heroes and those in Hollywood launched a campaign in support honoring their own heroes. That campaign included Kenneth Cole, filmmakers Jerry Bruckheimer (Top Gun, Pirates of the Caribbean, Bad Boys, and CSI franchises) and Lee Daniels (The Butler, Empire, Star and The United States vs. Billie Holiday), real-life heroes Jami Marseilles and Dan Mayeda as well as actors and actors Reno Wilson (Mike and Molly), Sarah Wayne Callies (The Walking Dead), Will Yun Lee (The Good Doctor), Tasha Smith (Empire), Q'orianka Kilcher (Yellowstone, The New World), Country singer/songwriter Rodney Atkins, the non-profit Stand Up To Cancer, Roma Downey (Touched by an Angel), and screenwriter Billy Ray (Richard Jewell), and others.

Other supporters include filmmakers Ted Melfi (Hidden Figures), John Ridley (12 Years a Slave), Anthony and Joe Russo (Captain America: Civil War, Captain America: Winter Soldier, Avengers: Infinity War), Randall Wallace (Heaven is for Real, The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection, Braveheart), Mike White (School of Rock, Dawson's Creek), songwriter Diane Warren, PMC Media, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Hero in You Foundation.

The Congressman's office issued a press release soon after thanking those involved, including Anita Busch, cousin of Micayla Medek (also killed in the mass shooting in Aurora) who worked tirelessly to get the day established.

News Reports
Numerous news stories about the launch of National Heroes Day can be found here.