BOSTON - Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick; Gen. Frank Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau and Maj. Gen. L. Scott Rice, adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, presented Army Commendation Medals to members of the Massachusetts and New York National Guard at the historic Boston Common on Monday.
The commendation medals recognized the service members for their acts of heroism when they provided critical first response immediately following the Boston Marathon attacks on April 15.
Service members recognized:
- 1st Civil Support Team, Massachusetts National Guard: 1st Sgt. Gary Mauk Jr., Staff Sgt. Francis Charrette III, Staff Sgt. Jason Maguire, Sgt. Samatha Lord and Sgt. Michael Wall.
- 164th Transportation Battalion, Massachusetts National Guard: 1st Lt. Stephen Fiola, 1st Sgt. Bernard Madore and Staff Sgt. Mark Welch.
- 182nd Infantry Regiment, Massachusetts National Guard: Sgt. Geoffrey Curtis, Spc. John Mackie, Spc. Michael Jay and Spc. Mac Luciani.
- Recruiting and Retention Battalion, Massachusetts National Guard: Staff Sgt. Kelley McHugh.
- 24th Civil Support Team, New York National Guard, Staff Sgt. Saul Rodriguez
The Massachusetts National Guard responded to the Boston Marathon attacks with nearly 1,300 Soldiers and Airmen. More than 12 different Massachusetts Guard units and the Headquarters deployed in the Marathon attack response.
After the ceremony, Gov. Patrick took the time to shake hands with the service members and thank them for their actions.
The Boston Common ceremony followed with a short coin presentation ceremony at the State House to honor the service members.
Gen. Grass said it was an honor to present to these service members and stated: "In the Army we follow the Warrior Ethos and the fourth line of the ethos is I will never leave a fallen comrade, and for these Soldiers, that applies to citizens as well."