Bravery Honored: FDNY Heroes Awarded Presidential Medal of Valor for Remarkable Bronx and Manhattan Rescues

January 7, 2025

On January 3, two members of the FDNY received the Presidential Medal of Valor for their courageous efforts during fires in the Bronx and Manhattan.

The Medal of Valor represents the highest honor for bravery displayed by public safety personnel in the United States and is awarded for exceptional valor beyond the expectations of duty.

In October 2022, Lieutenant John Vanderstar of Ladder Company 44 responded to a blaze on the uppermost floor of an apartment complex in the Bronx. Lt. Vanderstar courageously crawled into the dwelling and found a mother and her toddler. He safeguarded them in that location until firefighters successfully subdued the fierce flames obstructing the way out.

Lt. Vanderstar was honored with the Emily Trevor/Mary B. Warren Medal during the FDNY’s 2023 Medal Day Ceremony.

In February 2023, Firefighter Brendan Gaffney of Ladder Company 36 responded to a fire incident in Inwood. Upon entering the building lobby, residents informed the members that there were individuals trapped on the fifth floor. Firefighter Gaffney proceeded into the apartment, facing complete darkness and extreme heat caused by an exploding lithium-ion battery from an e-bike, which impeded the escape route. Firefighter Gaffney made his way to a back bedroom and saved two unconscious persons—a child and a pregnant woman.

Firefighter Gaffney received the Hugh Bonner Medal & Honor Legion Medal at the 2024 Medal Day Ceremony.

“These two individuals embody the bravery, commitment, and altruism that characterize the FDNY. Their valiant deeds, performed at considerable personal peril, spared the lives of four New Yorkers in moments of incomprehensible risk,” stated FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker. “Receiving the Presidential Medal of Valor acknowledges not only their exceptional courage but also the steadfast dedication of all FDNY personnel who protect this city every single day.”