VFW chapter hands out awards
Published 10:19 pm Tuesday, April 21, 2015
The local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter presented awards to community members April 12. Shown from left to right are firefighter of the year DaRon Waters; Post 3016 Commander Dennis Doherty; policeman of the year Lt. Curtis Muhannad; Voice of Democracy first place winner Ka’Licia Hall; deputy of the year Brian Gallion; Patriots Pen essay first place winner Zykeria Daniels; radio station winner Todd Prater; paramedic of the year Phillip Jenkins, and State of Alabama VFW Commander Johnny Waller. .
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Selma Post 3016 honored some special guests Sunday at their headquarters.
During the VFW’s annual awards ceremony, students, police officers, firefighters and others were honored.
“It’s just a way of the VFW giving back to the community,” said post commander Dennis Doherty.
Zykeria Daniels of R.B. Hudson Middle School received an award after winning the Patriots Pen Essay contest and Ka’Licia Hall of Southside High School won first place in the Voice Of Democracy Essay.
Both students also received a monetary award. The students will now move on to compete in the district level of the competition, where they will have a chance to attend the state and national VFW competition.
“I think we had a really great group of award winners this year,” Doherty said. “They did an excellent job.”
In addition to the students, Morgan Academy teacher Terri Middlebrooks Austin was a recipient of the National Citizenship Education Teacher Award. A certificate of appreciation was awarded to Charles Duckett, a retired educator who helped judge the various contests. They also received a monetary award.
The Selma Times Journal and KIXX 101.5 were recognized for spreading news about service members and veterans’ events throughout the community.
The J. Edgar Hoover Gold Medal Awards were presented to first responders and public servants. The emergency medical technician award went to Phillip Jenkins of Care Ambulance Service. DaRon Waters of the Selma Fire Department won the firefighter award. In addition, Brian Gallion of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department received the sheriff’s department deputy of the Year award. Police officer of the year award went to Lt. Curtis J. Muhannad of the Selma Police Department. All of the winners of the gold medal awards were nominated by their colleagues.
“The gold medal award winners we had were really passionate about the work they do,” Doherty said. “They were excellent candidates for the programs.”
Doherty said he encourages veterans who are not members of the VFW to look into joining the post. He said he would like for more people to join so the organization can continue to reach out to the community.
