The Holliston American Legion Post 47 held its annual 9/11 awards ceremony on Sunday, September 9th, in Holliston’s Upper Town Hall. These awards recognize first responders for going above and beyond their line of duty. The Legion presented three medals to members of the Holliston Fire Department and 14 medals to members of the Holliston Police Department.
The group also recognized the town’s Oldest Living Veteran, J. Harvey Brown, who recently inherited the title from John “Babe” Johnson. Although Brown was unable to attend, his name will be added to a plaque in Holliston Town Hall, which began honoring the town’s oldest living veterans in 2013.
The Legion also presented its “Unsung Hero” Award to Bob Hopkins. As Commander Steve Bradford pointed out, the WWII veteran, who joined the U.S. Marine Corps at age 17, has dedicated his life to the town both as a member of the American Legion and in several other capacities.
Senator Karen Spilka and Rep. Carolyn Dykema attended the ceremony to award citations from the state to the heroes.
Members of the Holliston Fire Department honored included:
Chief Michael Cassidy, who on October 20, 2017, his first day of vacation, happened upon a structure fire on Mill Street. He alerted and evacuated the occupants, alerted other fire personnel and proceeded to use a portable extinguisher on the fire, keeping it from spreading to the interior of the home.
Firefighter/EMT Richard Coughlin, who on October 31, 2017 responded to a call about a sprinkler at Holliston High School. Thanks to his HazMat Technician training, he realized the water was interacting with a water-reactive product in a science lab, and he prevented harm to both responding public safety personnel as well as staff and students.
Dispatcher/EMT Shannon Tuttle, who, during an unscheduled overnight dispatch shift from October 29-30, 2017, successfully dispatched personnel to a working fire and multiple incidents in the face of power loss to computers, radios and phones due to an electrical storm, working with a flashlight and portable radio to successfully dispatch first responders, despite having not been trained for these technological challenges
Fourteen members of the Holliston Police Department were honored for their heroism, as well. These included:
Sergeant Glenn Dalrymple, Detective Ciara Maguire, Officer Tim Heney and Officer Felicia Filadelfo, for their lifesaving efforts, working together as a team to provide rescue breaths, chest compressions, preparation for defibrillation and two doses of Narcan on an emergency medical call on December 15, 2017.
Lieutenant Chad Thompson (then Sgt.) and Officer Andrew MacGray for their successful lifesaving efforts and administration of Narcan as well as CPR on a medical emergency call on January 10, 2018
Lieutenant Chad Thompson (then Sgt.) and Officer Scott Downey for their successful lifesaving efforts, using chest compressions and Narcan, on a medical emergency call on February 2, 2018
Sergeant Glenn Dalrymple and Officer James Ward for their successful lifesaving efforts, providing CPR, oxygen and an AED “shock,” on a medical emergency call on February 19, 2018
Sergeant George Leurini for his successful lifesaving efforts on an overdose call, administering Narcan, on March 16, 2018
Detective Ciara Maguire for her successful lifesaving efforts on a mental health call on April 12, 2018. Det. Maguire compassionately engaged an individual who was despondent and suicidal in a calm, focused conversation that led the male party into making a life-saving decision.
Sergeant Jonathan Remkus and Officer Andrew MacGray for their successful efforts, administering Narcan, on an overdose call on May 22, 2018.
Issue Date:
October, 2018
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