Medal Day 2008
It was hero appreciation day on June 4 as the FDNY celebrated Medal Day, awarding 44 medals to FDNY members who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, saving lives under extreme conditions.
And this year’s event was the first combined fire and EMS ceremony in the Department’s history.
“Time after time the men and women of the FDNY put themselves in nightmarish danger for one reason – to save the life of another,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
As the sun peaked through the clouds, 15 fire officers, one EMS officer, one fire marshal, 21 firefighters, five paramedics, five emergency medical technicians (EMTs), one EMS fellow and two fire companies received medals during the annual ceremony on the steps of City Hall.
“Every medal represents a life saved,” said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta to the crowd of thousands. “To New Yorkers, these are stories of uncommon valor, but to our [members], this is simply what they do day after day.”
Fire Lt. James Congema (Battalion 19, detailed to Ladder 41) was awarded this year’s James Gordon Bennett Medal and NYS Honorary Fire Chiefs Association Medal for rescuing five residents – ranging in age from 11 to 50 – from a fire in the Bronx on March 23, 2007.
“I was part of a great team that day,” he said.
With a grin, he added, “For the spotlight to be on me is a little uncomfortable, but I’m just going to enjoy today because I’ll be back at work tomorrow.”
The top EMS award, the Christopher J. Prescott Medal, was presented to EMTs Shawn Healy and Daniel Rohde of Station 19, who evacuated an apartment building that was on fire in the Bronx on February 9, 2007.
The Chief John J. McElligott Medal/FFs Fitzpatrick and Frisby Award was given to Fire Capt. James Brosi of Division 6. He was detailed to Engine 80 on April 6, 2007, when he crawled past a large volume of fire in a Manhattan apartment to locate and rescue a woman who was trapped.
After receiving his award, Capt. Brosi smiled and said, “Today was great from start to finish. It’s been wonderful for my family and for my company; it has been better than I expected.”
Members of Ladder 4 won the Firefighter Thomas R. Elsasser Memorial Medal for their work at the Manhattan steam pipe explosion on July 18, 2007. The firefighters saved multiple people who were trapped and injured by the large cloud of steam and debris.
“This is a great source of pride for our company,” Lt. Stephen Elliott said as he received well wishes from many of his fellow firefighters. “We just feel lucky to be honored.”
This year’s Jack Pintchik Medal was awarded to Dr. Lincoln Cox, EMS Fellow; EMS Lieutenant Lloyd Arscott and EMT Andre Gonzalez of Station 20; and Paramedics Miguel Angel Flores and Thomas Monahan, Sr., of 03 Rescue. On December 27, 2007, they saved a 700-pound man in the Bronx with a diabetic condition, who was unable to move due to his dislocated his hip and broken his ankle.
“This was a real experience, it was very unique” said Lt. Arscott.
Paramedic Flores added: “This was a very complicated job, but it’s an honor to be [receiving a medal] for it.”
The Emily Trevor/Mary B. Warren Medal was awarded to Firefighter Donal F. Finnegan (Ladder 42, detailed to Ladder 55), who saved two children from the tragic Woodycrest Avenue fire on March 7, 2007, just seconds before the room flashed over.
“Many firefighters have won this before me and many will after,” he said. “I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
Fire Lt. Vincent McMahon, Jr. (Battalion 17, detailed to Engine 92), won the Vincent J. Kane Medal for passing through heavy fire conditions to locate a fire victim in the Bronx and drag him to safety on January 24, 2007.
But when asked about the rescue, he echoed the sentiment of many of the day’s winners when he said, “It could have been any one of us. You know you did some good because you saved a life, but I was just doing my job.”