Medal of Valor Ceremony (As Written)

February 20, 2006

Governor Gregoire: We gather this morning to award our state�s Medal of Valor to four of our citizens who risked serious injury or death to save or attempt to save the life of another.

These four men�emblematic of �do unto others�� have set the bar for citizen heroism.

They have blessed us with their courage and their example. They have renewed our faith that, in the heat of the moment, citizens will step up and act with astonishing courage regardless of the sacrifice.

A real hero understands that there are forces greater than self: Courage is grace under pressure, President Kennedy wrote, quoting Ernest Hemmingway.

These men we honor today not only illustrate grace under pressure, they went above and beyond to demonstrate a willingness to pay the ultimate price to save a fellow citizen.

There is a common thread that binds each of our awardees: They were the faces in the crowd that did more than stare. They stepped up and helped when others would not. Thank God for them, and for those very rare few among us like them.

Our Washington State Medal of Valor was created in 1990, but today marks the first time it has been awarded. The medal reads, �For exceptionally valorous service, given in the act of saving the life of another.�

Thank you for humbling us, thank you for making us proud to be Washingtonians.


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