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Virginia Tech President Charles Steger was the keynote speaker and he explained how the New River Valley community sustained the university on and after April 16.  He also thanked the countless heroes that responded that day, as well as to other tragic events last year.

 
“We are here this morning to recognize heroes and there were many heroes on our campus last April,” said Steger during his speech.

Scott Stevens, Director of Operations for WPSK and Master-of-Ceremonies said, “The Heroes Breakfast is meant to honor the lives and stories of special people in five categories this year. Their compassion and their responsiveness to the needs of others have had a major impact in our community. Have you ever been faced with a choice that could save or change a life? The people we’re honoring today were faced with such decisions.”

With everything that happened in the year 2007, there was an amazing set of nominations. Nominations came from all corners of the New River Valley, just another reminder of truly remarkable individuals in this area.

The Community Impact Hero Award went to Kenneth Neal Turner:

Turner is a native of Montgomery County and a life member of the Christiansburg Rescue Squad with 32 years of experience. His expertise and knowledge were very valuable in helping the Riner area of Montgomery County build their first Rescue Squad Building.

Turner’s, whose current job is Emergency Services Coordinator of Montgomery County, involvement during the April 16th shooting at Virginia Tech was crucial to the Fire, Rescue, State Police and local departments in helping arrange and maintain the “central hub” for people involved during and after the tragedy on the Tech campus. In addition to providing professional support for the first responders, he provided counseling and a shoulder on which to cry for many of these same personnel.

The Good Samaritan Hero Award was presented to Joyce Robinson and Bonnie Albert:

Both Ms. Robinson and Ms. Albert are being nominated for acts of courage when they witnessed and responded to the flying glider crash in Ms. Robinson’s backyard. The passenger was killed and the pilot survived with serious injuries.

On that afternoon, both were talking and standing in Ms. Robinson’s front yard. Suddenly they heard the sound of an engine failing and they observed a motorized two-seater glider descending toward them over the neighbor’s housetop. Ms. Albert commented that the glider was going to land in Ms. Robinson’s yard.

They both ran to the backyard and saw that the glider had crashed into the trees and wreckage had fallen to the ground. There was a huge fire in the trees and wreckage.

Ms. Albert immediately ran inside to cal 9-1-1 and Ms. Robinson went to aid the two people who were trapped in the burning wreckage. Ms. Robinson struggled to unbuckle the passenger’s harness only to realize that she needed to turn her attention to the male pilot. Ms. Robinson struggled and struggled to undo the harness but had trouble with the safety latch. Ms. Robinson’s screams for help were heard by three young men who ran and were able to release the harness and drag the pilot away from the flaming wreckage. The pilot did survive the crash but with life-threatening injuries.

Randy Pelt, who was the pilot of the glider, was in attendance and was recognized.

The First Responder – EMS- Award was presented jointly to both the Virginia Tech and Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squads:

Recent headlines in our local paper: Car crashes into Blacksburg crowd – injures eight; Carbon monoxide victims treated in Blacksburg; Life saved in Cassell Coliseum – man brought back to life; April 16, 9-1-1 call – a rescue from madness; and Gyrocopter crashes in Blacksburg backyard.

All of these are events that happened and events where we expect a rescue squad to be available. It goes above and beyond the call of duty for all events to happen in the same town and the same year. These are just major examples of events where extraordinary people to extraordinary things. This category generated many, many individuals deserving of an award. The committee unanimously agreed to recognize the two rescue squads nominated. The Virginia Tech and Blacksburg Rescue Squads have performed courageously in a year full of unusual events.

The First Responder – EMS- Law Enforcement Award was presented to jointly to the Virginia Tech Police Department, the Blacksburg Police Department, the Christiansburg Police Department and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office:

There were numerous nominations and many deserving individuals for this award. One nomination stood out with the committee and it was the one nominating the dedicated individuals that make up these four agencies.

From dispatchers to officers and chiefs, all of these individuals from these departments displayed tremendous courage, bravery, selflessness and leadership in their collective response to the events of April 16. Having the award be a group award would be a great display of the community’s support and appreciation for EVERYONE in these agencies.

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While the April 16 tragedy tested our deepest emotions and beliefs, these individuals maintained the resolve that helped us a community heal and move forward. We also know that these fine officers are here for us every day and every hour of the year.

Disaster Response Hero Award – Brad Privett:

Brad Privett is a four-year veteran of the Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad, who served the Blacksburg Police Department and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office as a volunteer tactical medic.
Because of his passion for serving and protecting others, it is not a surprise that he joined the Army after graduating from Tech.

Privitt’s disaster resume includes national experience in bringing medical aid to hurricane victims and locally, he was one of the individuals who provided the first line of medical assistance into Norris Hall.

Workplace Award was presented to both Montgomery Regional Hospital and The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center:

We can only imagine the scene at the hospital on the fateful day of April 16. Staff who thought we lived in a fairly violent free area of the world had that dream shattered in a way no one could imagine. But, they rose to the occasion and treated the injured, consoled families and not only gave the medical attention needed but showed compassion for everyone involved.

The employees at the Inn at Virginia Tech found themselves at the center of chaos on April 16. Their selfless work in organizing space for families, providing rooms for families whose news was not good, providing food and housing to those who needed it. They served as buffers between the media that descended on our area and families that needed their space. They work extended shifts as they were thrown into the center of an unbelievable tragedy.

Both of these groups experienced a day and time we will never forget. They saw things and heard things that they will never forget – distraught parents, wails of sorrow, panicked students and exhausted coworkers.

Delegate Dave Nutter also presented a Resolution to the Montgomery-Floyd Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Cumulus was the Bronze Sponsor for the event, while Award Sponsors included ACI, nTelos and Carilion New River Valley Medical Center.

Click here to see more photos from today’s event in our photo gallery.

Photos: (Top left) Henry Bass (l) of ACI presents the Good Samaritan Hero Award to Joyce Robinson (c) and Bonnie Albert. (Right) Christiansburg Police Chief Mark Sisson speaks on behalf of the Christiansbug, Blacksburg, Virginia Tech Police Departments and Montgomery County Sheriff's Office after the four agencies were presented the The First Responder – EMS- Law Enforcement Award. (Photos by David Grimes)

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