Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security Honors First Responders

State Senator Becky Duncan Massey and Deputy to the Governor Jim Henry recognize Three Stars of Tennessee Honorees

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security on Friday hosted the annual First Responders Awards ceremony to honor those who have­­ dedicated their lives for the safety and security of all Tennesseans. The ceremony also included a special recognition of this year’s recipients of the “Three Stars of Tennessee Award.”  The event, which is traditionally held on or near September 11, took place in Conservation Hall at the Executive Residence in Nashville. State Senator Becky Duncan Massey (R-Knoxville) spearheaded legislation to recognize law enforcement, firefighters and medical first responders who were either killed or suffered a career ending injury in the line of duty. The law (TCA 4-1-501) to allow for the “Three Stars of Tennessee Award” passed during the 2014 legislative session. She and Jim Henry, chief of staff and deputy to Gov. Bill Haslam made the presentations to “Three Stars of Tennessee” honorees and the first responder award recipients. “Today is a special day in Tennessee as we recognize the men and women who risked and gave their lives as public safety professionals,” Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons said. “Our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones in the line of duty. We are grateful for their service and honor their memories today.” Six individuals were honored with the “Three Stars of Tennessee Award.” All of the recipients were killed in the line of duty.  “These courageous men sacrificed their lives to keep their communities safe,” Gibbons said. The First Responder Awards ceremony has been held every year since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. This year, 20 first responders were recognized for their service to Tennessee. Each of the honorees was nominated by his or her peers and represents the 11 homeland security districts in Tennessee, as well as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. The ceremony is part of the state’s National Preparedness Month activities. National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort encouraging Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies. Critical to the preparedness process are the men and women who serve our state and citizens as first responders.