Central Emergency Services fire fighters took a rare pause Saturday evening to reflect on 2014 and encourage the men and women who put their lives on the line.
The awards banquet started with an emotional video tribute from Kenai Peninsula Fair Director Lara McGinnis, speaking from a wheelchair in her living room…
McGinnis: “Most of you know me as Mile 50 Sterling Highway, March 16, 2015, because you were there. And that day you became my heroes. The combined crew of Moose Pass and Cooper Landing and CES, I will forever be in your debt. To the sweet voice that whispered, ‘We’ve got to get you out of here and this is going to hurt like nothing you’ve ever felt before,’ I still hear that voice and it soothes me when I panic and when I worry.”
The Soldotna Sports Center was filled with fire fighters, support staff, and their families. Chief Chris Mokracek presented awards to those who had shown the most courage and least selfishness last year…
Chief Mokracek: “We really have to make a concerted effort to do it. I understand what the guys do and what a great job they do every day and they would say, ‘Oh, I’m just doing my job,’ and they wouldn’t get up there and accept them if they didn’t have to in front of a group, so it’s very important to recognize these guys, and they do a heck of a job.”
Joey Wicker was names CES’ firefighter of the year. Below is a complete list of the awards…
Medal of Valor- Traye Turner, Jaye Peterson, Joshua Thompson
Distinguished Service Awards- Steven Bender, Kelly and Clark Meyer, Lori Tyler, Brad Nelson, Josh Thompson
Unit Citation for the Funny River Fire (first operational period)- Chief Mokracek, Reed Quinton, Dan Jensen, Josh Thompson, Chris Scudder, Adam Bell, Traye Turner, Sam Evanoff, James Vinson, Mathew Seizys, Arnold Renken, David Bunts, Terry Bookey.
Unit Citation for The mile 91 bus accident- Chief Browning, Terry Bookey, Josh Osborn, Josh Thompson, Steven Bender, Jason Craig, Brandon Ring, Chris Scudder, Matt Tegerdine, Sam Evanoff, Dale Lawyer, Reed Quinton, David Bunts, Bill Hiler, Brad Nelson.
Unit Citation for the Kasilof River rescue- Chief Browning, Reed Quinton, Brad Nelson, Traye Turner, Chris Scudder, Joseph Wicker, Josh Thompson, Adam Bell, Nick Murdock, Jayson Cooper, Spencer McLean, Robert Glick.
Unit Citation for the Cook Inlet mud rescue- Chief Browning, Reed Quinton, Chris Scudder, Jim Vinson, Adam Bell, Nick Murdock, Mathew Seizys, Spencer McLean, John Perna, Robert Glick.
Life Saver Awards-
Cardiac Arrest- Jayson Cooper, Dan Jensen.
Cardiac Arrest- Josh Thompson, Dan Jensen, Reed Quinton, Nick Murdock.
Cardiac Arrest- Jaye Morrison, Nate Nelson, Shawn Killian, Tim Weekley, Matt Tegerdine, John Chihuly, Michael Crane, Logan Howlet, Lori Tyler.
Good Samaritan Award- Charley Tegerdine
Special Recognition Awards- Thad Hamilton with the Alaska State Troopers, Kristine Jensen, Chelsie Bradford
Certificate of Appreciation- Odies Deli, The Grind, First Baptist Church, College Heights Baptist Church, Emily Hansen, Wendy Newby
