Staff Reports
President Biden is set to hand out the Medal of Valor this Friday, honoring eight public safety officers who exhibited extraordinary bravery in the line of duty. Among these honorees, five officers will receive recognition for their heroic actions during the tragic school shooting in Nashville in March 2023. Apparently, saving lives and putting one’s own safety on the line has become a new gold standard in America.
The White House describes this medal as the highest honor available for acts of courage that “disregard personal safety” while attempting to protect lives. This announcement is yet another reminder of how essential our frontline heroes are in an increasingly chaotic world, where such valor seems increasingly rare, but is certainly not forgotten.
When the chaos at The Covenant School unfolded, it was Sgt. Jeffrey Mathes, Officer Rex Engelbert, and Detectives Michael Collazo, Ryan Cagle, and Zachary Plese who answered the call. They rushed in to confront the shooter, apprehending the culprit responsible for the tragic loss of three 9-year-olds and three teachers. These officers not only faced potential harm, but their bravery undoubtedly prevented further tragedy that day.
Meanwhile, in Nebraska, Sgt. Tu Tran’s unflinching actions saved a woman from drowning in icy waters. Jumping into a freezing pond, he swam over 30 feet to rescue her from her sinking vehicle. This might inspire some to ask: how many other officials would risk hypothermia instead of waiting for some bureaucratic permission slip to act?
President Biden will award the Medal of Valor, the nation's highest honor for bravery by a public safety officer, to eight officers Friday, including five who responded to a school shooting in Nashville in 2023. https://t.co/sdgFTBzqHc
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) January 3, 2025
The fire department isn’t left out either, with two firefighters from New York City receiving similar recognition. Lt. John Vanderstar put his life on the line in a burning apartment, rescuing a mother and her child. Meanwhile, Firefighter Brendan Gaffney’s double dashes through flames to save a pregnant woman and a child have everyone asking, “Where are the rest of these heroes?” These real-life action figures embody the raw, unfiltered essence of courage that even a Hollywood blockbuster would struggle to portray effectively.
Biden will present these awards at the White House, which is getting quite the library of awards if the Presidential Citizens Medal ceremony held the day before is any indication. It seems some years, the White House can’t even keep track of all the heroics happening across the nation. With heroes like these gaining recognition, one has to wonder if there’s any hope for the rest of us to aspire to such heights—or should we just settle for hope that our leaders can support, defend, and honor those who protect us every day?
