Author: Leigh

Finding the courage to carry on after the death of your significant other is one of the greatest challenges you can face in this life. Gold Star wife Audra Ames has felt the weight of that loss firsthand. Ames met her husband, Air Force 1st Lieutenant Scot “Rowdy” Ames Jr, in February 2018 when he approached her at a bar in Terre Haute, Indiana. That first night, she was out with Scot until 3 AM—the connection was like no other she’d experienced.

While Scot attended Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) for two years, the couple lived 9 hours apart, spending long hours on FaceTime and meeting halfway between Mississippi and Illinois just to spend the afternoon together. Despite the travel—and the fact that Scot’s car had no air conditioning—their long-distance romance blossomed, and Audra cherished every second. As she puts it, “I hated every goodbye.”

After Scot finished training, he was selected as an FAIP (First Assignment Instructor Pilot) for the 50th Flying Training Squadron. June 2020, while Scot was at PIT (Pilot Instructor Training) they were finally reunited at their home in Mississippi. Shortly thereafter, they eloped at the courthouse in Columbus.

Despite the specter of danger that hung over their relationship, the two spent 8 months together in marital bliss, in part thanks to Scot’s eternally positive disposition. “Scot was also humble and well-respected. During his 8 months as an IP (Instructor Pilot) he was voted a favorite by students and was loved by his colleagues.” Ames tells. “I had no idea he was voted as the favorite IP until after he died—he left the awards at his desk and didn’t boast to me; he was simply doing his job, something he loved so much.”

One ordinary morning, Ames hugged and kissed her husband goodbye in the kitchen, unaware that it would be the last time. “If I had known that was the last time I would ever get to hug him, I would have held on a lot longer and squeezed him tighter,” she says. Around 5 PM on February 19th, 2021, Scot’s plane crashed in a wooded area outside Dannelly Field in Montgomery, Alabama. Checking her phone for his location, Audra immediately developed a pit in her stomach, but tried to stay hopeful. It wasn’t until she saw an article on the news that evening that she fell to her knees, knowing he was really gone.

Through the funeral, many memorials, and countless meetings with the Air Force about finances, Ames suffered wave upon wave of grief, turning to her friends and family for support. Though she hadn’t met them before his death, the 50th Flying Training Squadron and their spouses became her greatest allies, welcoming her with open arms in her time of need. She was also supported by many other Gold Star Spouses and her TAPS mentor, Sonia.

“During our years together, Scot taught me many things I will never forget. Arguably one of the most important things I learned from him was how to live each day as if it were my last—how to be bold, courageous, and joyful.”

Today, Audra Ames lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she works as a Certified Financial Planner. She also runs the Scot “Rowdy” Ames Jr. Foundation, which helps aspiring pilots get their wings by funding flight hours, classes, and other programs they need. 

Billy Moon was a 21-year member of the FDNY, as well as a 28-year volunteer in the Islip Fire Department, serving as Chief of Department from 2016-2018. He began his career in L133 in South Jamaica Queens where he spent almost 20 years before transferring to Rescue 2 in Brooklyn. He always said he never worked a day in his life because he was a part of the greatest job in the world.

William “Billy” Moon II, 47 was a friend and mentor to everyone. Known for his big personality, huge smile, and love for the job, Billy was also a devoted husband and father of two.

After suffering a fatal fall in the firehouse on December 12, 2022, Billy answered his last alarm on December 20, 2022 with the gift of organ donation, a topic he felt strongly about. He saved the lives of five others, including two fellow firefighters.

The Billy Moon Foundation was created to honor this final act of selflessness. Billy’s wife, Kristina Moon, continues to commemorate his legacy, advocate for and build awareness around organ donation, support those in the process, and pay it forward to their communities.

Buffalo-born U.S. Army veteran Seenah Mischel has the job of her dreams, but it wasn’t until she was almost 30 that it found her. Courage has never been in short supply for Seenah, the first in her family to enter the armed services. In August of 2010, one day while driving to work in her new home, Erie, PA, she heard a radio announcement that the Erie Bureau of Fire was recruiting and decided to apply.

In the back of her mind, she’d been quietly nursing the dream since the sight of a Black female firefighter stirred something in her as a child. “I swear, never before in time had I thought I could do something like that,” Mischel said. “Seeing someone doing it was an eye-opener. From that point, I wanted to do it.”

With her Army conditioning firmly intact, Mischel breezed through her candidate testing and was hired that same year, becoming Erie’s first Black female firefighter. Her military training and easy camaraderie in the firehouse helped her skill up quickly, picking up tricks-of-the trade from her engine crew as well as a reputation as a real go-getter.

A Life of ‘Firsts’ 

In August of 2024, she returned from an overseas deployment with the U.S. Air Force Reserves to another first: she was offered the Lieutenant position she had tested for, becoming the city fire bureau’s first Black female officer.

Since then, Mischel has learned a little more about the now-retired firefighter in Buffalo who inspired her so long ago from her airfield firefighter unit in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. Though she’s never met her in person, Mischel still considers her to be her biggest inspiration.

“Sometimes I do see those looks I gave her when I was a kid,” she said. “I see it in the eyes of kids when they stop and look at me, never realizing that firefighters on the job are someone who looks like them.” For her part, Mischel is quick to encourage any kids who show an interest to consider joining up.

Letter Carrier George Wood was delivering mail in Las Vegas when he spotted a parked motorcycle in flames behind a residence.

Wood alerted the homeowner, who came outside and attempted to extinguish the fire himself.

The Postal Service employee warned the man of the imminent danger of a gas tank explosion, and emergency responders were called to the scene as high winds whipped the flames.

As firefighters battled the blaze — which engulfed both the residence and a neighboring home — they discovered a disabled tenant next door who was trapped in a kitchen after he fell while trying to escape.

George was just doing his job that day, but ended up saving lives of a homeowner unaware of the danger just beyond his door.

Gina Marsh is a Nevada nurse of 22 years. She never imagined she’d be saving a toddler’s life within minutes after completing her shift as a clinical supervisor in the Surgical Services department at Henderson Hospital.

Stopped at a red light, she noticed a Henderson Police officer had pulled a child from a vehicle and was performing back thrusts. Sensing the urgency, Gina quickly made a U-turn, parked, identified herself as a nurse, and offered to help.

“I realized the child was choking, so I stepped in,” said Gina.

Seeing that the toddler was unresponsive and his lips had turned blue, she performed a finger sweep inside his mouth. Within moments, he began breathing again and was rushed to a children’s hospital for further care.

For months, Gina often wondered about the little boy and his family, unsure of their names or what happened after that fateful day.

Later, during the Southern Nevada Healthcare Heroes dinner, Nevada Business Magazine honored Gina with the Healthcare Heroes Award – and orchestrated a heartfelt surprise. While receiving the award, Gina was reunited with the young boy she had saved. 

As she crouched down to meet him properly for the first time, the moment reaffirmed the profound impact a nurse can have, not just in hospitals, but anywhere their skills are needed most.

Crime, like loneliness, thrives in isolation. Marisol Perez, a victim’s advocate within the Reno Police Department, is working every day to bring people closer together. The solution is as simple as a cell phone. Working with a Florida organization called 911 Cell Phone Bank in Florida, Marisol spends most of her day providing free cell phones and minutes to victims of human trafficking. 

Despite its small size, a simple cell phone can be a crucial lifeline for victims—one that breaks the silence that allows their exploitation to flourish. Before the initiative, the Metro Police Department of Las Vegas purchased their own phones and minutes for exceptionally dire cases—at a significant cost. The donation-based work of Marisol and 911 Cell Phone Bank has made them not only less expensive, but given more people in peril access to these potentially life-saving connections.

Donations Greatly Appreciated

The process for getting the phones into the hands of those that need them spans the country. Phones are repurposed from unclaimed police evidence, community donations, and contributions from the local jail. They are then sent to Florida, where 911 Cell Phone Bank wipes them clean and provides minutes and data before shipping them back to Marisol for distribution in Reno.

Susan Shipp of 911 Cell Phone Bank is quick to emphasize the importance of donations, especially from companies with many unclaimed phones sitting in lost-and-found departments. “Human trafficking is just a huge issue, and it’s a hidden crisis that thrives on isolation. Our program helps break that isolation.”

Along with our Nevada rollout, we’re proud to tell the story of female firefighter Jacqueline Belluomini. 

Jacqueline is a fearless leader from Station 10 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She’s served 17 years as a firefighter and 2 years as a captain. Not only is she a record holder amongst her peers but she’s also saved a team member by wrestling a 13-foot python during a fire.

According to her team, her positive outlook turns even the wildest situations into an adventure. Her most memorable rescue involved wrestling the python during a house fire call. Even with her known fear of snakes, she bravely jumped in to save her captain from the snake’s attack in the midst of the house fire. With improvisation, they were able to shove the python into a 50-gallon trash can and remove it from the scene.

Jacqueline also takes part in the annual Firefighter Challenge and has beat her own record in the women’s 40 to 49 category. After taking a six-year break from racing, she came back and broke her own record.

What a hero! Cheers to you, Jacqueline.

A dedicated Nevada firefighter, Robert Uszynski was honored with the Red Cross Everyday Heroes Award for his action in his community. 

Uszynski received the Aquatic Award for Lifesaving Rescue after he and lifeguard Taylor Thompson heroically saved the life of a three-year-old girl found unconscious at a public pool.

“I just happened to be there with my family when I saw Thompson jump in and pull her to the side of the pool,” Uszynski recalls. 

“She was blue and not breathing, so I initiated CPR. She was coming around before the ambulance arrived. I was glad to be there to help.”

The Southern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross honors community members each year with the Everyday Hero awards, recognizing individuals who go above and beyond to make a difference. Uszynski’s quick thinking and decisive action earned him well-deserved recognition for his lifesaving efforts.

With 15 years of service in the City of Las Vegas Fire Department — 10 of those with Las Vegas Fire and Rescue — Anthony Bruno is a well-deserving hero.

Bruno’s passion for firefighting was sparked at a young age during frequent visits to his local firehouse. That early inspiration now shines through in his work, especially in moments where his quick instincts have saved lives.

One such moment occurred on March 5, 2015, at 5 a.m. While passing by a serious car accident on the 95 near Kyle Canyon Rd., Bruno noticed first responders on the scene. As ambulances departed, he heard a faint sound — at first mistaking it for an animal. Just as he was about to leave, a strong gut feeling urged him to take a closer look. He put his truck in park and went back to the site, soon discovering a crash victim still trapped in the vehicle. Wasting no time, Bruno immediately sought help, leading to a successful rescue.

In his role as a dispatcher, Bruno also made an unexpected record — going 10 years without assisting in a baby delivery over the phone, a rarity in his line of work. That streak ended with his first delivery, followed by two more in the same week!

Each day presents new challenges, yet Bruno approaches them with compassion, quick thinking, and unwavering dedication. This was evident when he comforted a 5-year-old caller during an emergency, taking the time to chat about her favorite color and family dogs — helping her stay calm while units rushed to assist.

Anthony Bruno is more than just a dispatcher; he’s a hero both in his career and at home. His dedication and heart make a profound difference every day, and we proudly celebrate him.

It’s almost impossible to forget a great teacher, and every former student will surely remember the common refrain on that teacher’s lips: “show your work.” Sofia Bella, a 3rd grade teacher at Mater Academy Mountain Vista, is doing exactly that—on a scale that’s truly inspiring. 

In her classroom, she teaches a few dozen students in person each day, but Sofia’s Tik Tok, where she shares her enthusiasm for education, reaches almost 3 million followers. In her most popular videos, which garner hundreds of thousands of likes, she showcases her personal life, her students wins, and little things that make her classroom comfortable and educational for her students, like their favorite decor and the books they enjoy.

Even the most mundane classroom additions can make a huge difference for your average student. In a recent video of Bella reciting her student’s names you can practically see their eyes light up as she gets each one right. Being an educator is tough work and our teachers need inspiration more than ever. Sofia makes it look easy—and appealing.

“My goal was to inspire people. I’m not only inspiring my kids but I’m also inspiring kids all over the world to love school and I’m inspiring people to become teachers, which is what we need.”