On Sunday September 22nd the Vocational Education and Extension Board (VEEB) of Suffolk County held their annual Medal Day Ceremony.

This years event was hosted by the Melville Fire Department at the Melville fire Department Headquarters. The ceremony is held each year and recognizes heroic actions of firefighters from throughout Suffolk County. These heroic firefighters preformed extraordinarily brave deeds above and beyond the normal expectations of a firefighter.

Representatives from the Suffolk County VEEB Board made the presentations in front of numerous local dignitaries, invited guests and family.

The Cutchogue Fire Department was honored to receive a "Unit Citation" . CFD was recognized for the Department's response for an injured paddle boarder in Peconic Bay on August 29, 2018. The victim became impaled on a mooring anchor, and would require an extensive rescue effort from responding firefighters and EMT's to extricate her from the water.

Chief Tom Shalvey Jr. and a contingent of CFD Responders were on hand to receive the award.

Additionally CFD Friefighter John Hinton Jr. was honored for his actions while working as a Soutold Town Police Officer.

On April 18, 2018 Police Officer Hinton helped rescue a victim from a car accident after his car had crashed and burst into flames on Route 25 in Orient.

He was awarded a Peace Officer Medal of Valor in recognition of his actions.

New Stories from both dramatic rescues:

Paddleboard Rescue - http://www.cutchoguefiredept.org/news/885/Paddleboarder-Becomes-Impaled-on-Mooring-Anchor-in-Peconic-Bay

Car Fire - http://www.cutchoguefiredept.org/news/855/CFD-Members-in-the-News%3A-Southold-Town-Police-Officer-Rescues-man-from-Fiery-Crash

Other Honorees included the following:

Gold Medal:
Asst. Chief Jason Bernfeld, Melville Fire Dept.

Silver Medal:
Vincent Plotino; Central Islip FD,
Michael Corrigan, Dominick Gabrielli, James Moltzen; Lakeland FD

Bronze Medal:
Robert Thornton; Cold Spring Harbor FD
Angel Medina, Richard Gillooly; Orient FD

Suffolk County Fire Academy Instructors of the Year:

Al Nemecek Award - Deputy Chief Thomas V. Guerriere
Jack Gibson Award - Deputy Chief Richard J. Incandela

The Chief Officers and members of the Cutchogue Fire Department would like to congratulate all of the day's award recipients.

Thank You to the Vocational Education and Extension Board (VEEB) of Suffolk County for honoring our local heroes.