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National
Park Service Employees & Partners Recognized for Acts of Bravery
|
 Washington,
DC – May 2015 / Newsmaker Alert / From evacuating federal workers being
stalked by a mass murderer to rescuing injured mountain climbers, 15 National
Park Service employees were feted last week at the 70th Honor Awards
Convocation in Washington, D.C.
“On
any given day, National Park Service employees set the standard for superior
public service. From the maintenance workers to park rangers, we are forever
grateful to these individuals for their bravery in the face of incredible
danger; even death,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis.
Secretary
Jewell also recognized Michael Hogrefe and Solomon Teneyck with the Citizens
Award for Bravery. When Mr. Hogrefe saw a father and daughter get swept
down-river while swimming in the National Buffalo River in Arkansas, he
selflessly came to their aid and saved the life of the child.
Here
are the Valor Award winners:
-
Members
of the Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team, Stephen A.
Baxter, Michael L. Lukens, Joshua K. McCoy, Larry V. Roberts, and Kevin
A. Sturmer planned and executed a complex and hazardous rescue mission
of a climber who sustained multiple injuries after a 50-foot fall attempting
to scale the 14,259 foot summit of Longs Peak.
-
United
States Park Police officer Eric K. Cole from the Golden Gate National Recreation
Area heard by radio that someone on the Golden Gate Transit Bus was wielding
a knife. Officer Cole boarded the bus and soon disembarked to follow and
subdue the dangerous individual.
-
Park Rangers
Thomas A. Hall, Matthew L. Hudson, and Brett F. Painter from Big South
Fork National River: Using only headlamps and moonlight, the three rangers
paddled through treacherous and bone-chilling rapids to rescue a 21-year
old male who was stranded without a life-jacket.
-
United
States Park Police officers Carl E. Hiott and Andrew W. Wong were first
responders and played a major role in helping to apprehend the Washington
Navy Yard shooter, who in 2013 killed 12 people.
-
United
States Park Police officers Mark B. Mason and Arthur Thomas from Fort Washington,
and the recipient of the Citizen’s Award for Bravery, Solomon Teneyck:
On the bank of the Potomac River bank at Fort Washington Park, the three
men worked together to safely rescue a man drowning offshore.
-
Park Rangers
Kean Mihata and Matthew Werner used the principles of Operational Leadership
to safelyrescue a climber who was dangling 700 feet above ground at Glen
Canyon National Recreation Area.
Editor’s
Note
www.FindYourPark.com
NPS
Operational Leadership safety program: www.nps.gov/training/nrs/academy/G_both_graphic/operational_leadership.html
View
the full awards convocation ceremony at: www.doi.gov/news/video/live.cfm.
About
the National Park Service
More
than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 407 national
parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local
history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at
www.nps.gov,
on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice,
Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice,
and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
NPS
Contact:
Suki
Baz
202-208-6843 |
