Governor Patrick Presents 25th Annual "Firefighter of the Year" Awards
Press Release
Governor Deval Patrick today joined Public Safety Secretary Andrea Cabral and State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan to honor firefighters from 10 Massachusetts communities for heroic acts of bravery during the 25th annual "Firefighter of the Year" Awards ceremony. The ceremony was held at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum in Boston.
"Today we honor amazing acts of courage and bravery by the Commonwealth's firefighters and take a moment to thank these heroes and their families," said Governor Patrick. "Firefighters show a greatness of spirit and community in choosing to protect others as a profession while putting themselves in danger."
"Every year, we honor the bravery and sacrifice of the entire fire service through these awards," said Secretary Cabral. "This year's recipients are extraordinary examples of those qualities."
Governor Patrick and Secretary Cabral presented 22 awards: two Norman Knight Award for Excellence in Community Service to the Amherst Regional Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) Program and to a Lunenburg firefighter for his Senior SAFE Program; an Excellence in Leadership Award to a Boston Deputy Fire Chief for a career devoted to improving fire prevention; 10 Individual Awards for Meritorious Conduct to firefighters from Abington, Chelsea, Everett, Lunenburg and New Bedford; two Group Awards for Meritorious Conduct to teams of firefighters from Boston and Tewksbury; five Medals of Valor to individual firefighters from Billerica, Lynn and New Bedford; and two Medals of Honor presented posthumously to the families of Boston Fire Lt. Edward J. Walsh Jr. and Boston Firefighter Michael R. Kennedy.
Past Medal of Honor recipients and their survivors received special recognition from Fire Marshal Coan during this milestone anniversary ceremony for their service and sacrifice. In addition, the State Fire Marshal thanked Governor Patrick who was presiding over his eighth and final "Firefighter of the Year" ceremony for his unwavering support of the Massachusetts fire service, starting as Governor-elect in Danvers, through floods, tornados, significant fires and firefighter funerals.
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