Launderville was chosen as the hero from the state of Iowa for his concern for children and for putting community safety ahead of personal safety. The sheriff of Buena Vista County, Launderville and his wife, Sandy, have fostered 125 children, seven of which they eventually adopted and joined their family of six. Last January, Launderville was hit by an SUV and thrown 20 feet into the air when he was rescuing a mother and child stranded in a raging snowstorm.
Griess was chosen as the hero from the state of Nebraska for her efforts to save the lives of two children. Griess was driving home when she noticed thick, black smoke coming from a mobile home park. She pulled off the highway and drove to the park where she found two children trapped by a fire. Without hesitation, Greiss went to a window of the mobile home and pulled the boys, ages three and one, to safety.
