Red Cross site honors Sikeston hero

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A Web site honoring everyday heroes is featuring one of Sikeston's own, Charles Mitchell.

While on duty as a custodian at Lee Hunter Elementary last April, Mitchell spotted fifth-grader Jessica Williams choking on a piece of pizza. Mitchell saved her life with the Heimlich maneuver.

"Volunteer of the Week: The Faces of Service" is a new addition to the American Red Cross Web site, www.redcross.org, originally dedicated to honoring Red Cross heroes who responded to the Sept. 11 attacks, according to Ray Steen of the American Red Cross headquarters in Washington, D.C.

"We started getting more and more stories, and some of them were not September 11-related," Steen said.

So the Red Cross decided to expand the site to include any Red Cross hero. The Volunteer of the Week link leading to Mitchell's story can be found in the "Spotlight" box on the right side of the American Red Cross home page.

Mitchell's story was the first selected from among those not related to the terrorist attacks.

"I'm honored by that," Mitchell said. "They said I had an amazing story."

Mitchell's story appeared in the April 10 Standard Democrat, and the local Red Cross chapter recognized him with a certificate.

He was "shocked," however, when the Red Cross contacted him a week ago to interview him for the feature.

"I never thought it would go this far," said Mitchell.

Although Mitchell appreciates the value of what he did, he finds it hard to think of himself as a hero.

"Anybody with my training would have done what I did," he said. "I just want to thank the American Red Cross for their training and the YMCA for putting me through the training."

"The main thing is the kid is alive," he said.