Local VFW post recognizes emergency responders

Submitted by Bill Tawater

Each year, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States selects an emergency medical technician, a law enforcement officer, a firefighter, a 911 dispatcher to receive Public Servant Awards. Local VFW Posts submit a winner from each category to their State VFW Department Headquarters. The department then selects a single winner for each of the four awards and submits those to the VFW National Headquarters.

The VFW National Emergency Medical Technician Public Servant Award applies to any individual, who actively gives emergency medical treatment, provides rescue service or civil disaster assistance as a member of any public or volunteer company organized to give emergency medical care, provide rescue and civil disaster assistance to our nation's citizens.

The VFW National Law Enforcement Public Safety Award applies to an individual who serves in a municipal, county, state or federal unit tasked with enforcement of the laws pertaining to their area of responsibility. This award does not apply to individuals employed by private companies or security services.

The VFW National Firefighters Public Servant Award applies to any individual who actively fights fires as a member of any public or volunteer company organized to fight fires and give assistance to our nation's citizens.

The VFW National 911 Dispatcher Public Servant Award applies to any individual who serves in municipal, county, state or federal unit tasked with providing the vital link between callers in distress and emergency response teams by obtaining essential information to send the appropriate responders to the right location.

Candidates must have demonstrated recognition by their colleagues or those they serve; consistent excellence in the performance of their duties; and consistent dedication to their official responsibilities and skills within their profession.

The agencies contacted to submit their candidates were the Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Office, Cathlamet Fire Department, and Fire Districts 1-4.

For 2023-2024, Wahkiakum Post 5297 has selected the following members of our community for each 3 of the 4 categories. A candidate for 911 Dispatcher was not submitted to the Post.

On Jan. 3, at the Wahkiakum County Court House Public Meeting Room, Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Office Deputy Lucas Getman was presented with the Law Enforcement award.

On Jan. 4, at the Cathlamet Fire Hall, EMT Ashley Tawater was presented with the EMT award, and at the District 4 Fire Station, Firefighter William Peek, was presented with the Firefighter award.

Each winner received a certificate, a plaque, and a cash award of $100. All three post award packages have been sent to the Washington State VFW Department for consideration and hopefully on to the VFW National Headquarters.

Bill Tawater is commander of VFW Wahkiakum Post 5297