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Over 150 cops, firefighters get hero awards
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Posted on Apr 10 2008
The American Red Cross NMI Chapter presented yesterday the first-ever Hometown Hero Award to over 150 police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians.
In a brief program at the Department of Public Safety, Juan Diego Tenorio, American Red Cross emergency services director, handed the certificates of appreciation to recognize the DPS first responders “for making our community a safer place.”
The certificates were signed by American Red Cross NMI Chapter board chair Larry Lee and executive director John Hirsh.
Tenorio said the Hometown Hero Award is the brainchild of Red Cross disaster action team volunteers Christy Sablan and Claudine Atalig.
“It is an opportunity to show how much we appreciate their help and all other stuff that they have done to the community,” said Tenorio, adding that they also gave the same awards to ports police and ports firefighters.
The director said there’s a lot of people who are involved with Red Cross and give their time away from their family to help out.
“It’s a good thing and they should be recognized for it,” he added.
DPS Commissioner Claudio K. Norita said the Hometown Hero Award is a national program by the American Red Cross to recognize and honor first responders.
“Nationwide, our first responders are police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and the many volunteers in the Red Cross and other organizations that respond to disaster calls and…to post-recovery,” Norita said.
The commissioner said he is happy because the Red Cross, one of DPS’ partners, has recognized the DPS personnel who are in the front line.
“We are happy with the relationship that we have with them [Red Cross] through all the years that we’ve been working with them,” he said.
“I was really surprised, but I was honored that the Red Cross called last week and said ‘you know, we want to recognize the guys and we want to come down and give them certificates’” he said.
The award, Norita said, is a morale booster for the police officers and firefighters.
