May 18 was no ordinary day for 17 very extraordinary people.

Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services organized the 22nd annual Tribute to Unsung Heroes award presentation, held at Fellowship Community, Whitehall.

The ceremony honored 17 older Lehigh County residents who displayed exceptional generosity with their time and talents to enhance the lives of others throughout their communities.

Rita Granitz and Fran Kryzan, both of Whitehall, were among those honored as Unsung Heroes.

According to the nomination information, Granitz, 73, “is an all-around people person and enjoys interacting with those in need throughout her various roles.”

She has volunteered with an elementary school reading program and with Good Shepherd by playing Scrabble, visiting with residents and interacting with community partners. She also volunteers in the pediatric unit at Lehigh Valley Health Network by playing games and spending time with the children and adolescents.

Granitz is also an active member of her church and serves on the independent-living Resident Advisory Committee at Fellowship Community.

The nomination details for Kryzan, 82, report she is a parish nurse “who has orchestrated emergency medical assistance to parish members, as well as establishing first-aid boxes and an AED unit in the church.”

She has also worked to set up classroom instructions for CPR at a local fire company.

Kryzan is also very involved in her faith and served on the church welcome committee and the outreach committee as president “through her persistence and willingness to help others.”

In 1965, then President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Older Americans Act, declaring May as Older Americans Month.

Lehigh County has celebrated this event annually for 22 years. The theme for this year’s nominees was “Age My Way.”

Guests were welcomed by Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services Executive Director Clayton Reed Jr., and Pennsylvania Department of Aging Secretary Robert Torres gave opening remarks. Both men presented certificates and citations to each recipient.