Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph M. Terrazas accepted the 2014 Department of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award today in a public ceremony at the Pentagon, a fire department spokesman said.
The LAFD was one of 15 recipients out of more than 2,800 nominees selected in July for the Freedom Award by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), according to fire department spokesman Peter Sanders.
The Freedom Award is the Defense Department’s highest recognition for exceptional support of employees who are affiliated with the National Guard or military reserves.
“Supporting the nearly 130 LAFD members who serve our City and our Nation is a team effort that requires dedication, compassion and a cooperative
spirit,” Terrazas said. “I am proud to lead an organization that provides such exceptional support to these dedicated public servants.”
The LAFD was nominated for the Freedom Award by Firefighter/Paramedic David Danielson, who works at Fire Station 88 in Sherman Oaks, according to Sanders. Danielson is also a Senior Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy Reserve and was deployed twice to Iraq during combat operations there.
Danielson’s nomination focused on how LAFD captains maintained contact with and supported his wife during his deployments. He noted the effectiveness of the LAFD’s Military Liaison Officer and the fact that the Department has trained local military personnel in emergency medical techniques prior to their overseas deployments.
“When people step forward to bear arms for our country, their service should not only be respected but honored, and I am proud that the Los Angeles Fire Department is being recognized for our efforts,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said.
