Everyday Fairfax County’s finest public safety and law enforcement personnel risk their lives to keep our families and neighborhoods safe. They are the unsung heroes of our community. On March 13th at the Hilton Mclean, the 30th Annual Valor Awards will honor these individuals for their remarkable heroism and bravery in the line of duty.
A proud Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce tradition since 1979, the 2008 Valor Awards ceremony honors our bravest and proceeds from the event will benefit the Valor Scholarship Fund. This fund provides educational grants to the children of Valor medal recipients. During the next five years, with the help of generous business and citizens, the Fund will distribute more than $150,000 in post-secondary grants to the children of these heroes.
The Awards ceremony showcases striking accounts of courage and emotional stories of fearlessness in the face of danger. These real life heroes of our community lay their lives on the line everyday to keep our families and neighborhoods safe. In the entire 30 year history of the Awards, Fairfax County has recognized only five distinguished civil servants with its highest honor, The Gold Medal of Valor. This year the Valor Trustees will award four Gold Medals of Valor for heroism shown to Lieutenant Danny R. Urps, Master Technician John F. Linhart, Master Technician Joseph K. Swift, and Firefighter Medic William F. Ward.
“The prosperity and quality of life that Fairfax County enjoys are due in no small measure to the selfless and courageous acts of our community's public safety and law enforcement employees,” said L. Burwell Gunn, Valor Selection Committee Chairman for the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce.
Over 600 attendees will hear this year’s dramatic accounts of bravery and amazing stories of the lives that were saved by these selfless rescuers and the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce is honored to continue the tradition.
July 5, 2008 04:55 am
