Photo: Morgan McGee
Since our story first broke of Spokane's Downtown Duck Hero, who helped a mother duck and her 10 ducklings get safely from their nest in the cement awning outside his second-story office window to the Spokane River a few blocks away, Joel Armstrong's life has changed considerably -- and for the better. We thought you'd like to hear about it, so we interviewed Joel on August 19th at a local restaurant. Here's what we found out.
Q: What type of notoriety have you received at work since we published your story?
A: I'd say 50 to 100 of my co-workers have received emails of or about the story from five to ten different sources. My nickname at work now is "The Duck Hero." Sterling Bank's President, Heidi Stanley, even commended me for exemplifying the bank's motto, which is "Hometown Helpful," and the story was posted on our internal website for all to see.
Q: We know from email responses to our posting that your story has circled the globe. What types of responses have you received directly as a result of this?
A: I'd guess I've received over 200 emails and phone calls so far, as well as dozens of notes, cards and letters from all over the U.S. and Canada and other places around the world. I've made it a point to respond to each and every one, too. I've even received 3 or 4 marriage proposals, which I've turned down because I'm a happily married man with two children.
I've also received a few special gifts and awards. DuckHeroes.org, owned by Jill Tagudin of Woodland, Texas, sent me one of the "Save the Ducks" shirts and a "Duck Crossing" sign their company makes. PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals group, presented me with their Compassion Award, along with a card signed by everyone in their headquarters office. And locally, a Spokane 4-H Club sent me a letter with personal messages of thanks from each of the children in the group.
Q: We know that you were also contacted by The Peabody Hotel in Orlando, Florida. We learned from the email they sent us that their living corporate symbol is the North American Mallard and that they will celebrate a 75th Diamond Jubilee of The Peabody Ducks later this year. Apparently, they have quite an elaborate ceremony twice each day at all three of their hotels in Orlando, Memphis, TN and Little Rock, AR that's called The March of The Peabody Ducks.
Red carpets are rolled out from the duck elevator to the fountain in the hotel lobby and their resident ducks are herded from their "penthouse" atop the building to the water below while John Philip Sousa's "King Cotton March" plays in the background. I understand it's become quite a tourist attraction!
How did they react to your act of kindness to the ducks in Spokane?
A: Their VP/GM Alan Villaverde found the story in the Spokane.net Hot Topics and asked his Director of Corporate Communications, Maureen Gonzalez, to contact me. They have invited me, my wife and my children to be their guests in November at The Peabody Orlando and be Honorary Duck Masters for a day during their 75th Diamond Jubilee celebration of The Peabody Ducks. While there, I'll be given a Duck Hero's welcome by the management, staff and guests of the hotel during a special ceremony in the Atrium Lobby.
We actually plan to stay in Orlando four or five days so we can take the kids to Disney World. They've never been to Disneyland before, so this will be a very special family vacation for all of us.
Q: Overall, Joel, how has this experience changed your life?
A: Well, I've received a lot of attention at work, which has been nice and has resulted in a lot of positive publicity for my employer, too. In responding to so many kind messages from well-wishers, I've also had numerous opportunities to share my Christian faith. All in all, it's been a real joy to know that what I did made so many people smile.
Q: Your sister, Candace Dahl, who wrote and submitted the story to us, along with all those fabulous photos taken by Morgan McGee, mentioned to me that you might be considering writing a children's book about your adventure in the future. Is anything firm on that yet?
A: No, but we are looking into the possibility. We'd like to find a well-known children's book writer who would be interested in the story, but we haven't found one yet.
Lunch was over, so Joel promptly left to return to work – and possibly answer a few more emails and phone calls to The Duck Hero from well-wishers around the globe. Soon he and his family will receive a Duck Hero's welcome in Orlando and get to go to Disney World for the first time. And in the future Joel's simple act of kindness may be commorated forever in the pages of a children's book.
It took fifteen minutes or less of Joel Armstrong's life to get the wheels turning on this great adventure. That should certainly be an inspiration for the rest of us to re-assess how we spend our time … or how we could spend it more wisely. What will you do today?
Enjoy the journey, Joel!
Has this story been an inspiration to you? What are you doing differently in your life because of it? Have you ever seen The March of The Peabody Ducks in person? Email us and we'll post your comments online with this story. Be sure to include your name, city you live in, and a contact phone or email address in case we have questions. Feel free to vote in our Poll, too.
Editor@Spokane.net