Loudoun County, VA (July 26, 2021)- Twenty-six members of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) were among those recognized Monday at the 2021 Annual Valor Awards ceremony held at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne, Virginia. This year’s awards recognized the heroic actions of 65 first responders and nine civilians.
Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman and members of the LCSO leadership team and command staff were among community and business leaders in attendance. “Today’s ceremony was another reminder of the heroic actions first responders often take to help save lives,” said Sheriff Chapman. “I am proud of the work the men and women of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office do every day,” Sheriff Chapman added.
Receiving the Lifesaving Award from the LCSO were Senior Deputy Nathan House, Deputy First Class Kirk Graham, Deputy First Class Stanly Miller, Lt. Doug Snell, Sgt. Melissa Tenant, Deputy First Class Sean Trautner, Master Deputy Jennifer Wetzel, Senior Deputy Robert Flood (Retired), Deputy First Class Cody Hoffmaster, Deputy First Class John Giangola, Deputy First Class Joseph Whitehead, and Deputy First Class Joshua Edney.
Receiving the Unit Citation from the LCSO were Deputy First Class Mitchell Costic, Deputy First Class Joseph Garone, and Sgt. Jeffrey Hunt.
Receiving the Certificate of Valor from the LCSO were Deputy First Class Derek Ater, Sgt. Chad Braun, Sgt. Jeffrey Cichocki, Deputy First Class Colborn, Deputy First Class Jacob Karrasch, Sgt. Lewis McClenahan, Deputy First Class James Sullivan, Master Deputy Mike Hall, and Deputy Megan Wealand.
Receiving the Bronze Medal of Honor were Deputy First Class Brandon Noland and Deputy Zach Gardner.
Chaplain Charles Grant received the Stu Plitman First Responder Community Service Award which recognizes those emergency first responders who demonstrate the highest commitment to fostering positive relationships with the Loudoun County community in ways that positively enhance the safety and security of our citizens. Charles “Charlie” Grant became involved as an Emergency Services Chaplain working with the LCSO in 1979. He then joined the Sterling Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad in 1980 as company Chaplain. He later founded the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue’s Chaplain program and throughout the years has shaped Loudoun’s sense of volunteerism and charity.
The Loudoun County Valor Awards program awards were established by the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the local public safety agencies, to recognize and acknowledge members of the various public safety departments, as well as everyday citizens, who have placed themselves in harm's way over the past year to ensure the safety of others.
Also recognized at today’s ceremony were members of the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System, the Town of Leesburg Police Department, the Town of Purcellville Police Department, the City of Manassas Police Department, and a total of nine civilians.