Credit: The Chamber ALX
Officer Wesley Vitale and Police Chief Michael Brown elbow-bump as Officer Vitale accepts his Life Saving Award.
The Chamber ALX’s 2020 Valor Awards on Thursday morning were different in many ways because of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The event was pushed back a few months, was live streamed and instead of handshaking, there was elbow bumping.
The event, which honors public safety personnel, also included a new set of awards. A pandemic award category recognized healthcare and essential services personnel who joined the frontlines to keep the community safe.
Mayor Justin Wilson acknowledged that the awards honor those who serve and protect the community during extraordinary circumstances and that every day during the pandemic has been extraordinary.
Misgana Aregai the Alexandria Meals on Wheels volunteer coordinator accepted a Certificate of Valor on behalf of the organization, which tripled the number of community members served to over 2,000 in response to the pandemic.
There were celebrations in the comment section from some of the 120 watching over livestream from those excited to see Aregai and other frontline workers recognized.
In the pandemic award category INOVA Alexandria Hospital’s Support Service Team was given a Certificate of Valor, and INOVA Alexandria Hospital’s Inpatient Team and Emergency Department and Critical Care Team were given a Life Saving Award. The City of Alexandria’s Health Department also received a Life Saving Award.
In a unique circumstance, Arlington Police Corporal Nichole Pehrson received a Life Saving Award alongside Alexandria Police Officer Sara Thomas for saving a family from a burning residence while they were off duty in January.
Three other police officers and three sheriff’s deputies were Life Saving Awards for their work in suicide prevention.
Sergeant Michael Vaccaro was awarded a Bronze Medal for placing himself at risk of death by going between citizens and a gunman who opened fire in Old Town in 2018. After defusing the threat, he performed life saving measures at the scene.
The fire department recognized a group of 17 composed of firefighters and EMTS with Life Saving Awards for rescuing people from burning buildings and going above to make sure the buildings were fully evacuated.
The police department awarded five officers Certificates of Valor for de-escalating a violent citizen and preventing the injury of others once they arrived on the scene.
Three public safety communications officers were given Certificates of Valor for cool handling of calls from people in dangerous situations and keeping the callers safe.
For the full list of those honored at the ceremony head to the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce website.
