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The awards given to the two Virginia Military Institute cadets were among several major awards handed out during the Lexington Fire Department’s annual awards banquet at the Virginia Horse Center last month.
Other awards announced at the banquet included the J. Henry Sorrels Officer of the Year Award, which went to Wes Harlow, while the Gene Bare Firefighter of the Year Award went to Justin Jarvis and the Alton Swink Outstanding Fireman of the Year Award went to Richard Smith.
The fire department also handed out a unit citation and EMS awards for cardiac arrest saves.
The unit citation went to the members who responded to a mutual aid call on Sterrett Road in Fairfield last Nov. 2 for a patient entrapped in a tree by a tree. Crews “captured” the downed tree and lifted the tree off the patient, who was entrapped approximately 15 feet off the ground, utilizing chains and ropes. Crews from Lexington and South River then assisted the patient down a ladder. Lexington crew members who responded included Lt. Jonathan Bowden, firefighter/medic Jeremy Nicely, firefighter/ medic Justin Cheatham, and firefighter/EMT Giles Hoback.
The EMS awards for cardiac arrest saves went to crews on two separate calls. Responding to a call on Jan. 20, 2024, were James Schindler, Courtney May, Brady Edwards, Mason Craft, Nickie Chittum, TJ Robertson, Jayden Layman and Leyton Wormser.
Recognized for their response to a call on Aug. 20 were James Schindler, Matthew Spencer, Daniel Lanphier, Jacob Dorr, Lt. Jarrod Hill, Allisson Southers, and Lexington Police Department officers Det. Sgt. Jessica Burks and Cpl. Corey Ianotta, who provided CPR prior to EMS arrival. The two police officers also received the lifesaving award from the police department for the same incident.
