Ten Idahoans on Wednesday received the state’s Medal of Honor for selfless acts in emergency situations.
Law enforcement officers and firefighters were presented their medals during a ceremony at the Idaho Capitol.
The medals are Idaho’s highest honor. This year’s ceremony honored recipients from 2020 and 2021, after last year’s event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Idaho Press reports, the Idaho Legislature created the Idaho Medal of Honor in 2004 to recognize firefighters and law enforcement officers for extraordinary acts of valor and heroism.
The 2020 recipients are:
Firefighters Jason Beck and Jonathan Metz of the McCall Fire Protection District
Corporal Eric Duke of the Nampa Police Department
Officer Eric Olson of the Lewiston Police Department
The 2021 recipients are:
Sergeant Justin Anderson of the Post Falls Police Department
Conservation Officer Randy Martinez of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Corporal Ben Heinrich and Officers Robert Heaton, Celina Mortensen and Seferino Tapia of the Caldwell Police Department
