Fire Chief: Firefighters Went Above and Beyond Call of Duty

Firefighter Richard Murray receives his award from Medford Fire Chief Frank Giliberti and Paul Thompson during Wednesday’s ceremony at Mayor Michael McGlynn’s office. Murray, now retired, was honored along with ten other firefighters for their bravery during two separate incidents, one in 2005 where firefighters helped rescue an infant being held hostage at knife point by his mother, and another in 2006 where firefighters saved a woman from being car-jacked and kidnapped. The eleven firefighters who received the award are Lt. Michael Craven, Firefighter Richard Tetrault, Firefighter Charles Casella, Captain John Small, Firefighter John Rosa, Firefighter Stephen Doherty, Firefighter Richard Murray, Firefighter William Young, Lt. James Brennan, Firefighter Steven Cronin and Firefighter Thomas Murray.

The following remarks were delivered at today’s ceremony by Medford Fire Chief Frank Giliberti.

Good evening and welcome to our Honorable Elected and Appointed Officials; our Chaplain Father Chip Hines; and Members and Family of the Medford Fire Department. And a special welcome to the Recipients of the Warren W. Thompson Medal, past and present. Representing the Thompson family this evening is Paul Thompson, the son of Warren Thompson.

Warren W. Thompson was born in 1911, and joined the Medford Fire Department in September of 1942. He served on Engine One, Two, Three, Five, and Ladder One. On July 24, 1970, Firefighter Thompson died in the line of duty while working at a fire at Tufts College. This medal is given to Firefighters for acts of bravery and heroism on the fireground or at a medical emergency. Even though they may or may not represent the direct saving of a life, these acts are above and beyond the normal risks associated with firefighting.

We are assembled here this evening in order to pay tribute and give recognition to 11 members of the Medford Fire Department, who, during two separate incidents, rose above and beyond the call of duty by unselfishly making a substantial and lasting difference in the lives of others in a manner not normally expected of Firefighters. In my opinion, these 11 individuals exemplify the meaning of the Warren W. Thompson Medal.

For those of us who have chosen the Fire Service as our life’s vocation, we know many things about all Firefighters, whether we’ve met them or not. Common traits include a host of adjectives including but not limited to: hard working, brave, reliable, resourceful, creative, and so on. One of the most significant traits of a Firefighters, however, is the trait that puts “Others before Self.” If you’ve ever observed a major public safety disaster, Firefighters are the ones running into burning buildings while all others are running out. Firefighters are the ones kneeling down in the wake of all adversity, administering a fresh breath of air to an otherwise lifeless victim. Firefighters can be seen passing the boot to raise money for a noble cause. Or on a hot summer day, gently spraying water on a gathering of school age children.

On some days, very special days, Firefighters can be seen responding to a seemingly routine alarm and then, upon arrival, realizing that the call is anything but “routine.”

This evening, we have 11 such individuals, who, during the normal course of events, responded to alarms that on any other given day, would have seemed to be nothing more than “routine.” The first involving a psychotic, out of control mother who was holding an infant at knife point, and the second involving a would-be car jacking and kidnapping of a young female.

But for the efforts of the 11 members of the Medford Fire Department who put others above self, the outcomes could have been devastatingly different. Instead, because of the actions of these fine Firefighters, the infant was taken, unharmed, from the psychotic mother’s clutches; and the would-be car jacking kidnapper was detained until arrested by members of the Medford Police Department.

It gives me great pleasure in bestowing the Warren W. Thompson Medal to these 11 brave individuals.

In so doing, it serves to remind all of us as to why Firefighters run into burning buildings when all others run out. Others before self! Men, thank you, God Bless You, and may you know that your efforts will never be forgotten.