WARNER ROBINS, GA (July 7, 2006) - A 24-year-old intelligence officer from Robins Air Force Base today was named a national “everyday hero” for being a mentor, friend and stabilizing force to a 12-year-old boy through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, despite the rigors of military service and intervening deployments to the Middle East.

     Lt. Peter Gruters received a bronze Heroes In Our Midst medallion and a ceremonial check for $1,000 during a special awards ceremony at the Museum of Aviation. The national Heroes In Our Midst program is designed to recognize the everyday heroes of America’s communities who are making a positive impact in the lives of others. The $1,000 check will be donated in Gruters’ name to the local Big Brothers Big Sisters agency to support the efforts of others, like Gruters, who are giving back to their communities.

     Gruters’ “Little Brother” John Moss, a seventh-grader at Warner Robins Middle School, has been paired with the Air Force lieutenant for almost two years through the REACH program of Big Brothers Big Sisters. The program enables volunteers from Robins AFB to mentor children from seven Houston County elementary and middle schools. More than 200 Robins AFB personnel currently serve as mentors through Big Brothers Bigs Sisters of the Heart of Georgia.

     After Gruters accepted the Heroes In Our Midst medallion and check this morning, his Little Brother John Moss asked area residents and others to send a greeting card or note of appreciation to Gruters. “Peter is really a great friend to me, and I admire him in so many ways,” says Moss. “He does so much for our country, and on top of that, he makes time for me.”

     Moss says he hopes to generate hundreds of cards expressing appreciation for his role model and Big Brother. Cards should be addressed to:

    1Lt Peter Gruters
    19 OSS/IN
    515 Borghese Drive, Suite 101
    Robins AFB, GA  31098-2700

     Although Gruters has been deployed at times during his mentorship with Moss, the lieutenant undertook to keep in touch with the youngster. “When I am deployed, John and I regularly stay in touch, and when I get back in town, we go to the movies, out to eat and play video games,” said Gruters. “I grew up in a single-family home like John, and I feel that it is important for a young man to have a male mentor to lean on.”

     Big Brother Big Sisters officials say Gruters has been a positive male role model to Moss and leads by example. He works with the pre-teen to help him make smart life decisions and encourages him to handle situations in a respectful way.

     Heroes In Our Midst is a nationwide initiative of the Greeting Card Association and its first year partner, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. The program is designed to recognize the everyday heroes of America’s communities who are reaching out to make a positive impact in the lives of others, and to inspire others to follow their example.

     Campaign officials say they hope area residents will be inspired not only to send a card to Gruters, but to become everyday heroes themselves, by reaching out to others through the type of personal interaction and caring that brings people and communities together.

     To learn more about Heroes In Our Midst and its goal of encouraging and recognizing America’s everyday heroes, visit www.HeroesInOurMidst.org.

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Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the U.S. It has been the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century, developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact of the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters serves 240,000 children, ages 6 through 18, in all 50 states. The national offices are located in Philadelphia. To volunteer or donate, visit www.bbbsa.org.

The Greeting Card Association, headquartered in Washington, DC, represents nearly 300 U.S. and international greeting card publishers and suppliers. It is dedicated to celebrating, promoting and preserving the tradition and cultural values of exchanging greeting cards.