Nancy Remkus, West Allis

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Nancy is a crossing guard. She was working the morning of April 3, 2007, at the corner of 116th Street and Greenfield Avenue, a busy intersection. It was a rainy morning and Nancy was wearing a blaze orange coat to keep her dry and clearly visible to traffic. As she began to cross two fourth grade boys, she spotted a car coming their way. One of the boys saw the car and jumped out of the way to safety. The other boy didn’t see it.

Knowing she had to shield the boy and get him out of the direct path of the car, Nancy threw herself in front of the boy as she attempted to push him away. Next thing she remembers, she was lying in the road in pain.

While the boy she protected suffered minor injuries, Nancy wasn’t as fortunate. She suffered six fractured ribs, a fractured tibia and a lot of pain. After three months in the hospital and seven months of rehab, Nancy is walking again, although she now has a limp.

“I was so relieved the boy wasn’t seriously injured,” reflects Nancy. "He has his whole life ahead of him.” Thanks to Nancy, that is.