Valor Awards
The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber partners with the local law enforcement and fire & rescue agencies in our region to host the Valor Awards, recognizing public safety professionals, volunteers, and citizens who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in protecting our community. Public safety agencies and community members will nominate recipients they believe performed courageous and selfless acts, and a committee consisting of local leaders will be selecting the award winners.
We appreciate your consideration of support for these critical agencies and individuals who give so much to maintain the quality of life that we enjoy in our community.
*Submission deadline is September 29, 2025.
Award Categories:
An officer who had shots fired at him by a bank robber, firefighters who ran into a burning home in an attempt to save lives, and a citizen who saved the life of a priest by administering CPR. These are three examples of heroic actions that were honored at previous Valor Awards ceremonies.
The award categories are as follows:
CITIZENS AWARD - Recognition of citizen(s) for their extraordinary acts of courage in emergency situations or actions which directly result in the saving of a human life.
UNIT CITATION - Recognition of acts by a unit/division/company demonstrating unusual judgment, ingenuity and/or personal risk and bravery during an emergency situation, when such action is beyond that normally expected in the performance of duty.
MERITORIOUS ACTION AWARD - Recognition of individuals for exemplary action, placing themselves in a situation of personal risk.
LIFESAVING AWARD - Recognition of actions in emergency circumstances which directly results in saving of a human life.
CERTIFICATE OF VALOR - Recognition of actions demonstrating unusual judgment, zeal or ingenuity, not normally involved in the performance of duties.
BRONZE AWARD OF VALOR - Recognition of acts involving personal risk and demonstrating unusual judgment, zeal and/or ingenuity during an emergency situation, when such action is beyond that normally expected in the performance of duty.
SILVER AWARD OF VALOR - Recognition of acts involving significant personal risk and bravery beyond that which is expected during the normal performance of duty.
GOLD AWARD OF VALOR - Recognition of acts involving supreme sacrifice or extreme personal risk and heroism which is clearly above and beyond the call of duty.
Congratulations to the 2024 Valor Award Recipients:
Lifesaving Award 1: EMS Captain / Paramedic Lee Coffelt, Firefighter/EMT Micheal Vickers, Firefighter Scott Richardson, EMT Student Floyd Hudson, Firefighter/EMT Dale King, Firefighter/EMT Nathan Tennent, Firefighter/EMT Caleb Taylor
Lifesaving Award 2: Master Communications Specialist Rebecca Richards and Deputy Sheriff Shannon Walsh
Lifesaving Award 3: Communications Officer Katelyn Walker, Specialist Samuel Jones, Specialist Philip Peer, Specialist Tyler Wakeman, and Firefighter/EMT Lucas Whitacre
Lifesaving Award 4: Life Member Jay Arnold, Rescue Captain Mike Crawford, Chief JC Blaylock, Firefighter William Cawood and Lieutenant Phil Thacker
Unit Citation Award 1: Frederick County Fire & Rescue - Lieutenant Tyler Stottlemyer, Technician Heath Whitted, Firefighter Michael Nelson, Lieutenant John Orndorff, Firefighter Daniel Spangler, Firefighter Nicholas Bailey
Unit Citation Award 2: Frederick County Sheriff’s Office - Deputy Sara Beylor, Deputy Travis Bridgeforth, Deputy Carlen Klimes, Deputy Rickey Timbrook and Deputy Cody Vorous
Unit Citation Award 3: Winchester Police Department - Officer Dylan L. Holliday, Officer Logan Blackmon, Officer Christopher Lane, Officer Morgan J. Gilcrest, Officer Caleb S. Haines, Officer Sean Lenhoff, Cpl Robert Sloan, Officer Brandon Boyle, Officer Raymond Rice, and Officer Nicolas Campbell
Unit Citation Award 4: Frederick County Fire and Rescue - Lieutenant Josh Terrell and Technician Brittany Driver
Meritorious Action Award: Deputy Brian E. Thomas, Chief Donald T. Jackson, Fire Chief John Newlin and Fire Chief Christopher L. Jenkins
Bronze Award of Valor: Officer Logan Hartley
Silver Award of Valor: Master Technician Jeffrey Myers
Gold Award of Valor: Officer Raymond Rice
