AUBURN - What makes a hero?

Is it athletic prowess, musical skills, the ability to entertain, or is it truly something less obvious and more intangible?

This is the question the Cayuga County American Red Cross has asked the community for nine years. On Tuesday afternoon, at the Holiday Inn, five people who have truly distinguished themselves as heroes were celebrated.

Dan Cummings, of WSYR-9, served as master of ceremonies for the ninth annual Real Heroes award luncheon.

“Heroes can be friends, neighbors, the person sitting right next to you,” Cummings said. “Maybe (President) Ronald Reagan said it best when he designated March as heroes' month when he said that you don't have to look in the history books to find heroes. For the Red Cross, that began 125 years ago when Clara Barton founded the Red Cross and through volunteers, friends and neighbors, we see who the real heroes of Cayuga County are.”

Among this year's selection of real life heroes were a variety of people from a 5-year-old boy to firemen and police.

Tristan Morgan was recognized for having the awareness to call 911 when he found his mother in need of emergency assistance. For this, Denise Stayton and Vicki Tylenda, of Cayuga County 911 nominated the boy, who shyly accepted his award.

“He performed a truly heroic act,” Stayton said. “It made me go home and ask my son if he would know what to do if something happened to mommy.”

Morgan and his family were victims to a fire at their home in Weedsport Monday. Morgan was presented with numerous gifts from Nash's Art Supply, Mayor Michael Quill and the Auburn Fire Department.

Joining Morgan was Gillermito “Gidge” Martinez, who helped an injured woman lying in the road.

Kathy Malenick helped save the life of a little girl dragged by a school bus when the little girl's coat was caught in the door. Malenick was nominated by Andrea Seamans, grandmother of 5-year-old Skyler White.

“I just can't say enough,” Seamans said. “She helped save our little Skyler and for that I can't thank her enough.”

Cayuga County Sheriff's Deputies David Harkness and Timothy Axton were next, for the heroic efforts to save the life of Matthew Willis, who was trapped in his vehicle after an accident.

Sheriff David Gould hit on what might well have been the day's most important message.

“We know with police and fire it is all about being in the right place at the right time,” he said. “And they were. These guys, all the people here today are true heroes, not athletes or entertainers, these people may have great talent, but they are not heroes, these people here today, they are truly heroes and I am proud to be here with them today.”

Michael Deyneka, a member of the Auburn Fire Department, was a key player in helping protect the lives of two of his colleagues when they were caught without radio communications in the Highland Park Golf Club fire.

Deyneka demurely said that he was acting in the line of duty, but paid special tribute to someone.

“I have to thank my wife Missy,” Deyneka said. “She knows what it is like to be a fireman's wife and she has always been there with the support at home so that I can do this job.”

Three special community recognitions were also made for Dr. Carl Weiss III and his staff at Finger Lakes Weight Loss Clinic.

Sam Giangreco, of Auburn, attributes Weiss with literally saving his life after crucial weight-loss surgery.

Also honored were Sandy and Charlie Mettler, members of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team and Bud Unger, on-call chair at D.A.T.

The Red Cross also thanked the employees of Auburn Correctional Facility, who have donated a great deal of blood, as well as donors from First United Methodist Church for their monthly chapter drive.

“You don't have to look in the sky to find a hero,” Cummings said. “You only need to look in the mirror and around you at the people sitting next to you, at home, your neighbors, your coworkers. You are all the real heroes.”