ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – New Jersey Air National Guard Senior Airman Solomon Stirling and Staff Sgts. Nestor Rivas and Lavone Graham were honored May 17 for saving a man's life.
For more than a year, New Jersey National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have been aiding their communities by staffing COVID-19 test and vaccination sites.
On April 15, at the end of a shift, the three Airmen - all with the 108th Security Forces Squadron – noticed that a civilian had gained access to their area and was attempting to jump from a balcony on the second floor of the Atlantic City Convention Center - nearly a 30-foot drop.
Without hesitation, the Airmen jumped into action, first trying to talk the person down.
“We were able to use the skills we learned in Security Forces,” said Rivas, who is also a corrections officer in New Jersey. “We talked to the individual and told him he had things to live for until we were able to get close enough to pull him off the ledge.”
“I was just happy that we were able to save his life,” said Graham, who also credited his Security Forces training.
Stirling, who works in his civilian job as a security specialist, was proud to make a difference.
“I was able to do what I was trained to do,” said Stirling. “To help others and to be there for my fellow Airmen.”
The Airmen were presented with citations from Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. and Dr. Wilson Washington Jr., Atlantic City’s director of Health and Human Services. They also received U.S. Army Commendation medals from Brig. Gen. Patrick Kennedy, deputy adjutant general and commander of the New Jersey Air National Guard, and Col. Robert Hughes, commander of Task Force Iron Guard.
“We salute you,” Small said. “Continued success and best wishes in serving our country to continue making us the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
“On behalf of the city of Atlantic City, we appreciate and commend you for preventing an attempted suicide on April 15, 2021. Your quick and selfless actions have not gone unnoticed,” said Washington. “Mental health is a very serious issue, which too many people suffer in silence. However, because of your quick thinking, someone gets a second chance at life and an opportunity to get the help they need.”
New Jersey Air National Guard Command Chief Michael Rakauckas called the actions of the Guard members "just another example of the professionalism and dedication to service by our Airmen, and we couldn’t be prouder.”