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Special Honor a Little Early for Local Firefighter
A Galesburg firefighter gets a statewide honor sooner than some of his colleagues.

Captain Derek Perry received his Firefighter Medal of Valor award Monday afternoon from the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. He's one 24 statewide to receive the award this year and one of two from Galesburg.

He's getting it now because he's about to deployed to serve in the Middle East with his National Guard unit.

Perry says anyone could have done what he did.

"Our policy...the arrival, whoever gets there first and second and third will dictate what our job is. So, we all know what we need to do. I have no doubts whatsoever if any of the other units had gotten there first, it would be somebody else standing up here," he said.

Perry and other Galesburg firefighters responded to a home on East Brooks Street in June of last year. They rescued 27-year old Katrina Mason from the fire. She was arrested after leaving an Iowa City hospital on Misdemeanor charges of Child Endangerment, and will be back in court in May.

The other firefighter from Galesburg receiving the medal -- Joe Grodjesk -- will be honored along with 22 others at a Springfield ceremony May 10th.


(State Rep. Don Moffitt and Mayor Sal Garza speak with Capt. Derek Perry)


(Moffitt shakes the hand of Capt. Perry)


(Members of the Medal of Valor Committee present Perry with his award.)


(Members of the Medal of Valor Committee post for a picture with Perry. WGIL News Story and Photos by Will Stevenson.)
03 19 12 by Newsroom
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