Yes.

Does a bear crap in the woods?

No.

An atheist can be a 'person', though. 'Heroic', much like the term 'evil', is probably a label we can do without. People do good things, people do bad things. In general, our species tries to do what they think is right (See: altruism). 

 Now, let me ask this question: What is right about being heroic?   

Of course. Are religious folk only heroic because they think god is watching?

My wife always says that I am her hero

Just remembered an example.

My jujustsu sensei once saved a young teenage girl from being raped, and he definately isn't christian.

You have two loaded words here: "right," and "heroic." They may mean different things to you and me.

However, trying to go along with what I think you mean: it is "right" to be heroic (in certain circumstances) because it allows for a better society. The important thing is "in certain circumstances."

Let's look at a couple of instances.

Say there is a platoon out on patrol in a hostile neighbourhood in Iraq. Say the are attacked and separated. All but one are pinned down by gunfire. The one who is not pinned down must traverse open area in which he is exposed to take out the gunner. Or, he can take the safe road back and flee.

In this scenario, it is right for the soldier to take out the gunner, though it places him in danger. Why? Because he might have to depend on another soldier to do the same for him. If he were known to have left the rest of his platoon for dead, others would not be as willing to help him in the future. Finally, these are his comrades, not just his fellow soldiers, but friends.

Next, take the case of a child who falls into a rushing river. A passing teen immediately leaps into the water to rescue the child, though he might fail, and drown himself. Why? Simply because we are trained from birth to respect human life, especially young and innocent life. He could not see himself as the person who would simply allow a child to drown. He would be filled with years of guilt if he were to watch a child drown. So, to save himself from his own guilt, he leaps in and saves the child.

These sorts of scenarios play out all the time. It is "right" to be heroic becase we are wired that way. We protect those in our group, because we are gregarious animals. What's the use of forming groups for mutual protection and social benefit if you don't protect others in the group? It's right because it's part of our social contract.

Wasn't Pat Tillman an atheist? The right wing pushed the image of his heroism in Afghanistan as a hero, yet I recall reading that he was an avowed atheist.

I am a career firefighter. I've seen my share of people in trouble, people suffering and people dying. What I'm about to say on the topic may sound as if I have one foot on each side of the fence, and well, I do.

I don't think it's 'good' or necessary to label people as heroes. However, I think using such terms as noble, heroic, heroism, courageous etc., are quite worthy and relatively accurate when describing specific actions of people (and some animals as well !)

I no more wish people to call me a hero, than I wish them to consider me a role model...but it isn't the worst thing I've been advised about or called, that much is certain.

So while I appreciate and agree with many of the comments made by Eloise and Nigel, I tend to agree more with Kevin R.  I envision a time in our world when most labels disappear,  because the truth is... (and here comes your daily dose of cheesy, sugary sweet sap)... in my humble opinion, to one degree or another and at different times in our lives, we are all heroes. 

Yet strangely, I find there's nothing at all wrong with thinking that none of us ever are.