The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Department
State House Boston, MA 02133
(617) 725-4000
MITT ROMNEY
GOVERNOR
KERRY HEALEY
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 8, 2004 CONTACT:
Shawn Feddeman
Jodi Charles
617-725-4025
Jennifer Mieth
978-567-3381
ROMNEY, HEALEY PRESENT FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Praising them for their bravery and courage, Governor Mitt Romney and Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey today presented the 15th Annual Firefighter of the Year Awards to firefighters from across the Commonwealth, including Lancaster volunteer Firefighter Martin McNamara who was killed in the line of duty just over a year ago.
Romney used the occasion to pledge to work with the Legislature to come up with a permanent solution to financially support the widows and children of on-call firefighters who make the ultimate sacrifice while on the job. Volunteer firefighters do not receive the same benefits as permanent full-time firefighters.
“Too often, a person lives an entire life without ever knowing for sure what kind of mark he or she has left on the world, but that can never be said of the people we honor today,” said Romney. “On behalf of the people of Massachusetts who rest easier knowing that our firefighting heroes are on the job, I say thank you. Thank you for your dedication, your spirit and your courage.”
Lieutenant Governor Healey added, “Today, we honor firefighters who are heroes to the individuals whose lives they have touched and to each and every one of us.”
Awards were presented to 30 firefighters, including three posthumous Medals of Honor to Lancaster’s McNamara of Lancaster as well as Captain Barry Bennett of Cambridge and Firefighter Irwin Gross of Brookline, whose widows accepted the honors.
Four Medals of Valor were presented to firefighters from Abington, Lowell and Norwood. Group Awards for Meritorious Conduct were presented to teams of firefighters from Abington, Lowell, Revere, Uxbridge, Westfield and Westford.
Individual Citations for Meritorious Conduct were presented to an Ashburnham firefighter. The Outstanding Community Service Award was presented to firefighters from Fitchburg and Hyannis. A Special Appreciation Award was presented to the members of the Boston and Worcester Fire Brigade Pipes and Drums Bands.
In addition, State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan presented the Fire Marshal’s award to Kathleen Minehan and Scituate Fire Department Captain Brian McGowan. Kathy Minehan is the team leader of WINGS: Widows (and Widowers) in Need of Grief Support. Captain Brian McGowan came up with the idea of a sticker to commemorate his fallen Worcester brethren, who perished just over five years ago, and, through sales of the W6 logo, has raised more than $130,000 for the Worcester Firefighters Memorial.
Coan said, “Kathy Minehan is a woman who found the inner strength to go to the aid of others after losing her own husband in the line of duty.” He added, “She was one of a group of widows from the Boston area who provided emotional support to the six women who lost loved ones in the Worcester Cold Storage fire and has been a strong and supportive presence after the death of Firefighter Martin McNamara in Lancaster last year.”
###
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.