Two Locals Receive FDNY Honors
Two Rockaway residents received awards at the FDNY Medal Day Ceremony at City Hall Plaza on Wednesday, June 5.
EMT Brendan Burns received the Yadira Arroya Medal for valor on Wednesday. Burns, a four-year veteran of FDNY EMS, assigned to Station 58, rescued two distressed swimmers in Rockaway on July 29, 2023, along with his partner Michael Healey.
“We were flagged down by two bystanders who let us know that two people were drowning,” Burns recalled. “With the help of my partner and two off-duty lifeguards, we were able to notify dispatch to send additional units while I swam out with a rescue torpedo and brought the two victims back to shore. It was a great team effort overall.”
EMT Shawn Griffin, a four-year veteran of FDNY EMS, assigned to Station 45, received the Christopher J. Prescott Medal, the highest award for a meritorious act for members of EMS Operations, along with his partner EMT Emmanuel Titus.
EMT Griffin and EMT Titus responded to a call on April 16, 2023, where a person was sitting on the edge of the Kosciuszko Bridge intending to jump. Together, they gained the person’s trust and guided them away from the edge to safety.
Congratulations EMT Burns and EMT Griffin, and all of the other FDNY members on their honors.
