Saturday, September 9th The Arrow Heart Adventure Camps organization held their 8th Annual First Responders Softball Tournament to commemorate the heroic actions of those who served and responded during the 9/11 attacks. Steve Finske, Arrow Heart Director and Mentor, stated, “When an event like that happens the public runs and the heroes run in. I think we need to recognize the ones that run into the danger. I don’t think our First Responders always get the recognition that they should. The purpose of the tournament and the trophy is to continue to commemorate those who ran in and those who gave their lives.”
Cora Loudermilk throwing the first pitch 
Arrow Heart Adventure Camps is a non-profit organization that was established in 2007. It offers a ten month leadership program that focuses on the six C’s of leadership: Character, Communication, Critical Thinking, Commitment, Courage and Compassion. Arrow Heart Camps goal is to have their campers “earn a strong sense of self-worth through exciting and challenging character building adventures. Arrow-Heart aims to find undiscovered potential and build self–assurance, so that every teen can cultivate their unique path to contributing to the world. Arrow Heart cultivates personal responsibility to equip teens with the life skills that become the foundation to overcome personal and environmental hardships.”
This year marks the eighth tournament overall, but the third year that First Responders from both Idaho and Oregon stepped up to the plate to battle it out between the two states. Arrow Heart Campers were divided between the teams to play during the tournament. Representing Oregon was the Ontario City Police Department and the Ontario Fire Department. Representing Idaho were officers from both the City of Weiser Police Department and the Washington County Deputy Department, as well as fighters from the Weiser Fire Department. Idaho once again won the tournament and will be honored with the Arrow Heart traveling trophy. This trophy is currently being made by Kenny Lukeheart and will travel each year to the state that wins the tournament. It will have labels on it for each year stating who won each year’s tournament.
Check out Livinginthenews.com Facebook page for photos of the tournament.
