President Biden commends New York City fire heroes, awards them with Medal of Valor

On January 3rd, outgoing US President Joe Biden held an award ceremony to honor two heroes from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) – Lieutenant John Vanderstar and firefighter Brendan Gaffney. They were presented with the Medal of Honor in recognition of their courageous acts of saving lives at a fire scene in New York City.

In October 2022, Lieutenant Vanderstar was on duty at a fire station in the Bronx when he received a neighbor’s knock on the door reporting a nearby fire. He quickly rushed to the scene and found a mother and her son trapped in the bedroom on the fifth floor of an apartment.

“Wearing full protective gear and a self-contained breathing apparatus, he navigated through the hallway of the fire to reach the bedroom, rescuing the adult female and a child,” recalled his colleague, Fire Captain Stephen Elliott. Vanderstar then escorted the child downstairs, while two other colleagues assisted in rescuing the woman. “If they had been a minute or two late, they might not have survived. It was an incredible rescue.”

In February 2023, Gaffney risked his life by entering a burning apartment during a fire, rescuing an unconscious pregnant woman and a child. He shielded the child with his own body and brought them to safety before going back through the fire to rescue the pregnant woman, performing CPR while waiting for medical personnel to arrive. Ultimately, both the pregnant woman and the child survived.

During the ceremony, President Biden also presented medals to other brave individuals, including five police officers who took decisive action during the 2023 shooting incident at Covenant School in Nashville, and Sgt. Tu Tran of the Lincoln Police Department in Nebraska, honoring his rescue of a woman trapped in a car in a freezing pond. Additionally, Biden posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to six fallen soldiers.

This award ceremony not only highlights personal courage but also embodies the spirit of selfless dedication and life-saving actions.