The annual Firefighter of the Year Award ceremony was held Monday, with a Medal of Honor posthumously awarded to Worcester Fire Lt. Jason Menard.
He died during a house fire Nov. 13, 2019, after helping another firefighter escape the flames, an act of uncommon bravery that merits the high honor, according to state fire officials.
The annual award ceremony, usually at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, was held virtually this year. Menard s family, Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Worcester fire and community officials were at a Worcester fire station. Today is a day to remember what a firefighter chooses to do, Polito said. Clearly a firefighter is born with.just brave.
Firefighters from Chicopee, Fitchburg given awards for search for missing children, rescue of woman from fire during Massachusetts Firefighter of the Year awards
Updated Mar 08, 2021;
Facebook Share
The ceremony, usually held with a live in-person audience, was virtual in 2021 amid the COVID pandemic.
“We’ve asked a lot of our public safety professionals over the last year, day after day, they showed up time and time again to do their jobs and keep us safe,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “The brave men and women who run into burning buildings, jump into icy waters, pull people from burning cars and provide emergency medical help to those in need had their hands full in 2020.”