Watch CBS News

Families Of Fallen Boston Firefighters Accept Medals Of Honor

BOSTON (CBS/AP) — The families of two fallen Boston firefighters have accepted posthumous medals of honor from Gov. Deval Patrick.

The tributes to Lt. Edward Walsh and firefighter Michael Kennedy were presented Tuesday during the state's 25th annual ceremony honoring bravery by firefighters in Massachusetts.

Walsh and Kennedy died while battling a 9-alarm blaze in the city's Back Bay neighborhood in March.

Firefighter of the Year
Gov. Deval Patrick handed out several awards at the Firefighter of the Year ceremony. (WBZ-TV)

Other awards included medals of valor presented to Billerica firefighters Patrick Corbett and James Harries; Lt. Mark Raposa and firefighter Matthew Forand of the New Bedford fire department; and Lynn firefighter Ryan Newhall.

Also among the 22 receiving honors was Joseph Fleming, a Boston deputy fire chief, who was presented with an excellence in leadership award.

Patrick said the ceremony paid tribute to "amazing acts of courage and bravery" by firefighters.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

MORE LOCAL NEWS FROM CBS BOSTON

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.