DES MOINES – Governor Kim Reynolds and Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens honored heroic citizens and first responders at the 2024 Sullivan Brothers’ Award of Valor and Governor’s Lifesaving Awards ceremony on Wednesday morning, December 11, in the Iowa Capitol Rotunda. A total of seven individuals from communities across the state were recognized for their courageous responses.
“Today’s award winners met moments of sudden, life-threatening danger or severe hardship with inspiring courage and presence of mind,” Governor Reynolds said. “They are true heroes who represent the very best of our state, and it was a privilege to recognize them this morning.”
Added Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens, “These Iowans intentionally and selflessly provided aid and assistance in times of need. It’s an honor to celebrate those who placed the needs of others above their own and answered the call to serve.”
The Governor’s Lifesaving Awards Program recognizes recipients in four different categories, including:
– Meritorious Service, which is awarded to those individuals in recognition of courageous and unselfish service rendered during a time of distress.
– Outstanding Service, which is presented to persons who have performed a courageous act in an attempt to save an individual who was in danger of losing his or her life or to individuals who unselfishly rendered service in a time of emergency.
– Lifesaving, which is awarded to those individuals who have attempted to save the life of another individual, but did not put their own life in jeopardy.
– Lifesaving with Valor, which is awarded to those individuals who at the risk of their own life, attempted to save that of another.
The Governor’s Lifesaving Awards honored four civilians:
– Randy Hartley, Adel – Outstanding Service Award
– Tyler Borneman, Waterloo – Lifesaving Award
– Evan Scheck, Spirit Lake – Lifesaving with Valor Award
– Joseph Salmon, Spencer – Lifesaving with Valor Award
The Sullivan Brothers’ Awards of Valor honors the memory of George, Frank, Joe, Matt, and Albert Sullivan – all in their 20s – who served together on the USS Juneau in the Guadalcanal naval battle in the fall of 1942. All five brothers died together in a tragic attack when two Japanese torpedoes struck their ship.
Kelly Sullivan, the granddaughter of Albert Sullivan, participated in this year’s ceremony. Kelly is a third-grade teacher in Waterloo who sits on the commissioning committee of the new USS Iowa and also commissioned the USS The Sullivans. A total of three first responders, all with the Oelwein Police Department, were honored at the ceremony:
Officer Gage D. Voshell
Officer William E. Ward
Officer Codi R. Wurzer
(Pictured at top with Kim Reynolds on the left.)