3 Eastern Iowans honored for service at Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival

Each year the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival kicks off its two-week event by honoring the everyday heroes who have made an important and significant impact for the betterment of their community at the Tribute to Heroes Dinner.

The evening includes live music, a silent auction and dinner. Col. Gregory Hapgood, director of public affairs for the Iowa National Guard, will be the keynote speaker.

The festival runs from June 19 to July 4. For more information and a full schedule, go to Freedomfestival.com.

This year's heroes are:

David Griffin

David Griffin of Cedar Rapids is the executive director and founder of the Eastern Iowa Arts Academy. The Cedar Rapids-based organization holds after school art classes - from music and art to dance, theater and creative writing - for students at no cost to their families.

'Our programs keep students engaged in positive after-school opportunities in a safe, nurturing and supportive environment,” Griffin says. During last school year, Eastern Iowa Arts Academy served 3,350 students in 32 locations in and around the Cedar Rapids metro area.

'The arts sometimes take a back seat in the daily operations of family life, yet, the arts are the most influential experiences a child can endure in their developmental growth,” Griffin says. Griffin, a middle school music teacher, is passionate about making sure all children are given the opportunity to explore the arts.

'My passion and drive is to deliver inspiring arts opportunities to those who may not have the means to experience it, to those who have never experienced the arts, and to those who use the arts as a healing agent in their life,” he says. 'From the onset of the organization we believed EIAA is truly a unique concept that our community would greatly benefit from. Our main initiative was to provide quality arts opportunities to youth at their existing organizations. Watching the Eastern Iowa Arts Academy evolve over the past seven years has been the most rewarding accomplishment in my career.”

He was nominated by Tracy McPartland, who says: 'Mr. Griffin's passion for teaching, progressive vision and tireless dedication have been the driving forces behind the incredible growth the Eastern Iowa Arts Academy has experienced and the unwavering quality of the programs offered.”

Griffin, though, also credits his staff, board members and volunteers.

'As a community, we are all in this together for the same purpose.”

Leroy Whannel

Leroy Whannel of Traer is honored for his naval service during World War II.

'His military experience has shown our family such great leadership and love,” grandson Jay Whannel Jr. says. 'He deserves every honor her can receive while he is still here with us to celebrate his heroism.”

Whannel enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve on Feb. 5, 1942. He was involved in three major invasions during World War II, including Normandy on June 6, 1944, southern France on Aug. 15, 1944, and Borneo on June 10, 1945.

After returning from the war and fulfilling his service to the Navy, Whannel raised his family with wife Beulah and ran a hardware store in Traer until he retired in 2007, well into his 80s.

His family is grateful that in recent years, Whannel, now 100, has started sharing his World War II memories with them.

'In the years after the war, there was not a lot ever said about it,” Whannel's son Jay says. 'But in the last few years, Dad has shared stories about the war with us and it is really neat and means a lot to us.”

'I remember the invasion (at Normandy) really well. It was an important step we made for our country that day,” Whannel says.

His memories are hard and gruesome given the loss of life he witnessed.

'It was something that had to be done and people gave their all. I was lucky to make it through it.”

Sonia Brandley

Sonia Brandley of Shellsburg is the founder of Last Hope Animal Rescue, a volunteer run non-profit organization in Cedar Rapids that works to find forever homes for animals that are no longer wanted.

'We support all of the local shelters in the area,” Brandley says. 'We also work on a lot of puppy mill rescues.”

Brandley started the organization in 2004 to help assist local shelters with overflow and to keep animals from being euthanized. To date, the organization has saved more than 3,000 animals.

'Sonia has an unconditional love for animals that have been forgotten, betrayed, no longer wanted, abused and neglected or tortured. She believes that very animal deserves the chance at a happy life and a loving home,” says Lori Arbuckle, who nominated Brandley.

'Sonia works tireless hours going to vets, transporting animals, answering phone calls and emails and saving pets from being forgotten. She gives of herself unconditionally for animals in harm's way and gives them a second chance at life.”

For many of the animals coming into the care of Brandley and her crew of pet-loving volunteers, it may truly be their last hope. The organization pays the medical bills for those dogs and cats that need attention - last year they spent more than $93,000 on veterinary bills - works to socialize animals that have been neglected and then places those cats and dogs with foster families until they can be adopted permanently.

'When you do animal rescue, a lot of days are hard and sad,” she says. 'But it's a wonderful day when you get an adoption for an animal. When I heard about this award, I thought this is a good day.”

Brandley says this award is a reflection of the efforts of many.

'Last Hope is such a group effort,” she says. 'I feel completed blessed to be surrounded by this group of talented and passionate volunteers.”