Home»BALTIMORE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT»CEREMONIES»MEDALS DAY CEREMONIES»Memorial Service/Medals Day 2014 11-8-14

The Baltimore City Fire Department honored its heroes on November 18, 2014 at the War Memorial Building across from City Hall in downtown Baltimore. Before the Medals Day Ceremony began Fire Department Chaplain Walter Burgess led the 35th annual Memorial Service. The service began with the presentation of colors led by the Fire Department Honor Guard and the national anthem was sung by Firefighter/Paramedic Nila Hurst of Engine Company 23. After the opening prayer and scripture was read, members of the Honor Guard led representatives from the Baltimore Firefighters Local 734, Baltimore Fire Officers Local 964, Retired Firefighters, and Box 414 Association to the front of the stage. There stood a large wreath where flowers would be placed to honor each departed member as their names were read from the roll of honor by newly appointed Chief of Fire Department, Niles Ford.
As each name was read a bell tolled and a red or white carnation was placed on the wreath. This year 44 department members and 7 members of Box 414 Association were honored. After a short lunch break that was catered by Missions Bar-B-Q the 20th annual Medals Day Ceremony began.
22 Exemplary Performance Awards and 5 Meritorious Conduct Awards were given to 27 members involved in 8 separate incidents, along with numerous Unit Citations.
One of the most notable incidents this year involved the rescue of a woman rescued from a burning boat in Baltimore’s Harbor. This incident occurred on May 17, 2014 as Baltimore’s firefighters were out participating in the annual Metro Burn Fund charity fundraiser. Fire Boat 1 and Fire Rescue Boat 1 were in the Inner Harbor area collecting around 1:00PM when a box was struck out for “smoke in the area of President St.” and a possible boat fire. The boats responded and found two boats at a pier well-involved and quickly began knocking down the fire with their monitor pipes. They were advised by nearby civilians that occupants were possibly still onboard one of the vessels. Without regard for their own safety, Lieutenant Daniel Thompson and Firefighter Jeff Mengel, from Fire Boat 1, without the protection of a handline, boarded the boat and began a search. They were soon joined by Lieutenant Steve Horchar and EMT/Firefighter Nicholas Stefany, of Truck 1 and members of Engine 23. A female victim, below deck, began screaming from a small porthole. Members of Engine 23 went to her aid and passed a SCBA facepiece to her, to assist her with breathing and kept her calm until she could be rescued while the fire burned above her. Meanwhile the members of Truck 1 and Fire Boat 1 continued their rescue efforts until a hoseline was passed to them and they began to beat back the flames and could finally breach and enter the hatchway where she was confined. They were able to rescue the 68-year old woman and bring her out to safety with only minor injuries and burns. For their courage, at great personal risk, under extremely adverse conditions, the Meritorious Conduct Award was presented to Lt. Thompson, Lt. Horchar, FF Mengel, and EMT/FF Stefany. For their quick thinking under hostile conditions that led to a positive outcome the Exemplary Performance Award was presented to Acting Lt. Mark Hoffman and EMT/FF John Morris, both of Engine 23. Battalion Chief Ron Green also received the Exemplary Performance Award for commanding this rescue. The four members of Truck 1 and Fire Boat 1 also received the Box 414 Association Award for their valiant rescue efforts.
There were also three Distinguished Civilian Awards given out to ordinary citizens who went above and beyond the call of duty to save another person from harm. One of them was Decerio Coley, the young boy who went back into a fire to search for and save his younger siblings. He found his sister and threw her out of the second floor window to safety, then continued to search for his brother in the smoke. He never made it out to safety and perished along with his brother.
Along with the Fire Department awards 11 organizational and private awards were handed out to 13 firefighters and paramedics in the Department.
The winner of this year’s Waldorf College Learning Partners Scholarship was Lieutenant Melvin Wehrman of Engine Company 2. He was picked from seven applicants that applied.
The men and women of the Department put their lives on the line everyday with deeds like these, most of which go unnoticed. This is the Fire Departments way to recognize and honor those who make a difference in the lives of the citizens of Baltimore.