The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber has partnered 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. This summer, public safety agencies 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.
Attire for this event is business/cocktail.
Hosted by
Thursday, September 21, 2023
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM EDT
2022 Award Winners
Gold Award of Valor
- Sam DeBergh
Gold Citizen Award
- Katherine Hogsten
Silver Award of Valor
- Lieutenant Michael Ackerman and Corporal Amber Polk, Winchester Police Department
- Officer Morgan Minor, Winchester Police Department
Bronze Award of Valor
- Captain John Jones II, Stephens City Volunteer Fire and Rescue Station 11
Certificate of Valor
- Specialist Paul Burroughs, Frederick County Fire and Rescue
- Technician Heather Hughes, Frederick County Fire and Rescue
- Technician Matthew Dowd, Frederick County Fire and Rescue
- Firefighter Adam Shaffer, Frederick County Fire and Rescue
Meritorious Action Award
- Lieutenant Warren Gosnell, Frederick County Sheriff's Office
- Deputy Jason Hawse, Frederick County Sheriff's Office
- Deputy Anthony Ament, Frederick County Sheriff's Office
- Trooper Aaron S. Eckman, Virginia State Police
- Trooper Joshua O., McClure, Virginia State Police
- Trooper Thomas W. Moade Jr., Virginia State Police
- Trooper William T. Diberardine, Virginia State Police
Unit Citation
- City of Winchester Emergency Communication Center
- Frederick County Public Safety Communications
- Clarke County Emergency Communications Center
- Specialist Margaret Bzdak, Frederick County Fire & Rescue
- Lieutenant Josh Jones, Frederick County Fire & Rescue
- Specialist Christopher Sipe, Frederick County Fire & Rescue
- Technician Henry Berthiaume, Frederick County Fire & Rescue
- Specialist Shawn Smith, Frederick County Fire & Rescue
- Technician Taylor Kerxton, Frederick County Fire & Rescue
- Technician Anthony Lafollette, Frederick County Fire & Rescue
- Battalion Chief Jeffery Unger, Frederick County Fire & Rescue
- Lieutenant Erik Hanna, Frederick County Fire & Rescue
- Corporal Tom Keller, Winchester Police Department
- Officer Dylan Holliday, Winchester Police Department
- Officer Jonathan Ramos, Winchester Police Department
- Officer Eddie Cameron Fincham, Jr., Winchester Police Department
- Officer Morgan Gilcrest, Winchester Police Department
- Officer Daniel Herbert, Winchester Police Department
- Officer Bryce Reinhardt, Winchester Police Department
Multi-Unit Lifesaving Award
- Specialist Samule Jones, Frederik County Fire and Rescue
- Captain Robert Sealock, Frederik County Fire and Rescue
- Specialist Heath Whitted, Frederik County Fire and Rescue
- Lieutenant David Hupp, Frederik County Fire and Rescue
- Police Chief Bruce Coor, Laurel Ridge Community College
Unit Lifesaving Award
- Technician/Paramedic Kayla Misner, Winchester Fire & Rescue
- Firefighter/EMT Justin Sears, Winchester Fire & Rescue
- Master Technician/EMT Brian Roth, Winchester Fire & Rescue
- Master Technician/EMT Joseph Spacht, Winchester Fire & Rescue
- Firefighter/EMT Matthew Price, Winchester Fire & Rescue
- Master Technician/Paramedic Adam Beahm, Winchester Fire & Rescue
- Firefighter/Paramedic Quinton Godfrey, Winchester Fire & Rescue
- Firefighter/EMT II Thomas Whipple, Winchester Fire & Rescue
Lifesaving Award
- Deputy Caden Thurgood, Frederik County Sheriff's Office
- Chief Bill Copp, Stephens City Police Department
- Chief Steven Majchrzak, Frederick County Fire and Rescue
- Lieutenant Marcus Deal, Frederick County Fire and Rescue
- Specialist Travis Orrison, Frederick County Fire and Rescue
- Specialist Brandon Knight, Frederick County Fire and Rescue
- EMT Linda Satterly, Frederick County Fire and Rescue
- Specialist Nic Giamonco, Frederick County Fire and Rescue
- Firefighter Stephen Morris, Frederick County Fire and Rescue
- Lieutenant David Hupp, Frederick County Fire and Rescue
- Specialist Samuel Jones, Frederick County Fire and Rescue
- Firefighter, John Frank, Frederick County Fire and Rescue
- Specialist Napoleon De La O-Salazar, Frederick County Fire and Rescue
- Lieutenant David Hupp, Frederick County Fire and Rescue
- Technician Heath Whitted, Frederick County Fire and Rescue
- Trooper Chance Harrington, Virginia State Police
- Deputy Sheriff Jessica Wyne, Clarke County Sheriff's Office
- Deputy Sheriff Lora Nicholson, Clarke County Sheriff's Office
2023 Master of Ceremonies
Jay Foreman
2nd Story Communications
Presenting Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Lighting Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Award Sponsor
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.