Home»BALTIMORE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT»CEREMONIES»MEDALS DAY CEREMONIES»Memorial Service/Medals Day 2011 11-5-11

The Baltimore City Fire Department held its 17th annual Medals Day and Memorial Service at the War Memorial Building on November 5, 2011.
It started off with the 32nd annual Memorial Service which honors past and present members who have died in the preceding year. Father Walter Burgess, the Department Chaplain, presided over the opening service which honored 48 members this year, including 5 members of the Box 414 Association. As the bell tolled for each name read the Presidents of Locals 734 and 964 Rick Hoffman and Steve Fugate along with Box 414 member Alex Katzenberg placed a red or white carnation in a vase to honor each person that had passed. It was a very somber ceremony and afterwards family members of the deceased came up and got the flowers in memory their loved ones. The service concluded with the playing of Taps on the bugle and a bagpiper playing.
After a short lunch break the Medals Day Ceremony started. Fire Commissioner Stuart Nathan was the Master of Ceremony. He is also a member of Box 414 Association.
One of the Distinguished Unit Citation awards was given for a fire that occurred on the morning of last year’s ceremony. As the ceremony was getting under way a fire was burning on the west side of the City. Engine 14 and Truck 10 arrived and went to work on the “vacant” dwelling fire. As they made their way into the building they heard a faint cry for help. Heavy fire was in the basement and heavy smoke conditions were throughout the rest of the dwelling. Lt. Cris Quick and Firefighter Brad Bonovich from Truck 10 along with FF Andy Hoffman E14 went to the second floor and found a victim and brought him down to safety to a waiting Medic unit. Off duty FF James Duncan, T10 was on the scene and assisted members of the Medic to the hospital with the victim. These members along with FF Jay Chenoweth, E14 who was keeping the fire in check while the rescue took place, all received Exemplary Performance awards. Both companies also received the Unit Citations for their actions on the fireground.
One Paramedic received an Exemplary Performance award for her actions. Paramedic Rhonda Johnson of Medic 18 along with her partner were clearing the hospital from a previous run when a rescue call came in for a bicyclist struck by an auto at University Parkway and 39th St. They then placed themselves on the rescue assignment.
When Medic 18 arrived the suppression companies were working on lifting the car off of the victim who was pinned under the car. As they lifted the car with the Holmatro tool and placed cribbing under it the victim needed immediate medical attention until he could be extricated. The rescue operation was taking some time, something the victim didn’t have much of left. With only about 12” of space under the car Paramedic Johnson laid face down and with arms outstretched crawled under the car to access the victim. She removed his helmet and applied much needed oxygen as the patient was turning blue. She did what she could in the limited space and also started an IV.
When the patient was finally extricated she and her partner were able to regain a pulse and spontaneous breathing as they transported him to the hospital. The victim later died of extensive traumatic injuries but her actions gave him the best chance of survival that he could have had.
A total of ten Exemplary awards were given as well as numerous unit citations and individual certificates. 13 special awards were also given out by private individuals and groups. Over 60 members received awards and honors at this year’s ceremony.
The men and women of the Baltimore City Fire Department put their lives on the line everyday and this is the day that the Department honors those who go above and beyond the normal realm of the job.