60 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

Airdate: August 3, 2022

What is a hero? The definition of the word is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.

As we’re growing up, there are people we look at as heroes. Who are they? Do we hold those people as heroes as adults – maybe changing our views about old heroes and adopting new ones?

Dennis Denenberg and Lorraine Roscoe have updated a book they wrote 21 years ago 50 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet is now 60 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet.

On Wednesday’s Smart Talk, Deneberg listed the 10 new heroes in the book, “Marian Wright Edelman, Children’s Defense Fund founder and still involved, Anthony Fauci. We know who he is, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Amanda Gorman, the poet at the inauguration, Vice President Kamala Harris, Native American John Herrington. And astronaut Katherine Johnson, the amazing mathematician. Walter Payton. Fred Rogers. And are you ready? My favorite Dolly Parton.”

Who is the book for? “The book is written at about an eighth grade level, and it is geared towards upper, elementary and really through high school. We find adult readers love it because it’s a simple read. It challenges you to explore more about the hero. Every hero has two pages, tells a short story about why that person is heroic and then challenges you to look on the internet and in other books to learn more about the hero.