Lynn firefighters receive state awards

LYNN – The bombings that took place at the Boston Marathon may have been months ago, but the memories remained fresh for Massachusetts firefighters at the 24th Annual Firefighter of the Year Award ceremony.Lynn Firefighter Matt Patterson was among eight other individuals, plus members of the Beverly and Cambridge fire departments, to receive the 2013 Fire Marshal award for their bravery at the scene of the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15. The fire chiefs from the Boston, Cambridge and Watertown were also honored for their respective departments? work during the bombings and in their aftermath over the next four days.?Without hesitation and without thinking whether the attack was over, on and off-duty firefighter personnel rushed to the aid of fellow citizens. It was a thing to behold,” said Gov. Deval Patrick, recalling the day in his address in Kresge Auditorium at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.The atmosphere among the audience was first solemn, as a quartet of firefighters sang “Amazing Grace” to a slideshow of photos of the Marathon victims. It then grew loud with a standing ovation for those honored on the stage.Since that day, Patterson has received international attention for saving the life of a child injured in the blast, but he said he was especially honored to be recognized among other firefighters who served that day.?It was especially nice to see and hear the other stories from other guys who did their part that day,” said Patterson. “No one person made a difference; it was all areas and all cities.”Lynn Fire Chief James McDonald said it isn?t unusual for two or three Lynn firefighters to be part of the ceremony each year for bravery in the face of fires, accidents and dangerous rescues, but this year?s ceremony was unlike the rest because of the Marathon.?So many people did so many extraordinary things and we have one of them,” said McDonald.Lynn Lt. Israel Gonzalez was also honored for the Norman Knight Award for Excellence in Community Service for his work in securing a grant to get over 1,000 smoke alarms into Lynn housing, as well as his bilingual fire prevention programs on local television.?By giving one smoke alarm, you are giving a life,” said the fire prevention officer. “It?s the first line of defense.”Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy said she was proud to join members of the Lynn Fire Department for the ceremony.?There are thousands of nominations every year, and I would be honored to have one recipient, never mind two,” she said following the ceremony. “It speaks volumes about the quality of work the Lynn Fire Department does.”