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State Officials Honor Tennesee First Responders
Posted on September 11, 2012
NASHVILLE--- Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam's Chief of Staff Mark Cate and Safety and
Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons were among several state officials to
honor 24 individuals from across the state for their service as emergency first
responders.
The First Responder Awards Ceremony, held at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
(TBI) headquarters, celebrated those who have dedicated their lives for the safety
and security of all Tennesseans. The special ceremony has been held each year since
the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. The event is also
held in conjunction with National Preparedness Month.
"It has been more than a decade since the 9/11 attacks on the United States.
However, we will always remember the public servants like you, who were willing to
risk their lives and rescue as many people as possible. The lessons learned on that
day have changed the way you all train for emergencies or disasters, for the
better," Cate said.
The 24 individuals recognized at Monday's ceremony were nominated by their peers and
represent each of the 11 Homeland Security districts in Tennessee, as well as the
TBI, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), Tennessee Citizen Corps., and the
Tennessee Highway Patrol. (The names and biographies of the honorees are attached
separately.)
"This ceremony is an important reminder that we should recognize all of the men and
women who put themselves in harm's way for our safety. Tennessee's law enforcement
officers and first responders have selflessly put the lives of strangers before
their own. The daily sacrifices they make to keep us safe are worthy of
recognition," Gibbons said.
The ceremony is one of the Office of Homeland Security's National Preparedness Month
activities. National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort encouraging
Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies. Critical to the
preparedness process are the men and women who serve our state and citizens as first
responders.
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