GILROY
– Sometimes, even the quiet heroes get their day in the
spotlight.
GILROY – Sometimes, even the quiet heroes get their day in the spotlight.
For 10 of South Valley’s bravest and finest public safety and service officers, that day was Wednesday at the Exchange Club of Gilroy’s 13th Annual Blue and Gold Awards.
“The commitment each of these honorees have made to the community is amazing,” said Christy Bracco, Gilroy’s Exchange Club president, who was happy to learn the awards were taking place on National Police Week, which runs until Saturday. “To do the amazing job these men and women do takes a lot of their personal time. They’ve made the choice to put their community first and we’re all better for it.”
Created to honor local law enforcement officers and firefighters for their contribution to the community, the awards brought out an all-star cast of local public safety officers.
Nine selected employees from the Gilroy Fire Department, Santa Clara County Fire Department, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s, California Highway Patrol, the Gilroy Police Department and the Morgan Hill Police Department were presented the annual awards by their supervisors who honored the recipients for outstanding work this year and throughout their career.
And while there was a lot of good-natured jeering between local agencies receiving their awards, the recurring theme throughout the awards ceremony was the strength public safety officers draw from each other, their families and the community they sacrifice their health to protect.
“I appreciate this award, but I want to take this time to publicly thank my children sitting here today for putting up with me and my work,” said GFD Captain Ed Bozzo, who was honored Wednesday for his leadership during September’s devastating Croy Fire. “I love you guys.”
Bozzo’s sentiments to his understanding family were echoed by several of the nine award recipients, and by the recipient of the Exchange Club’s highest annual award, the Book of Golden Deeds, which goes to an outstanding volunteer in the community.
This year’s winner of the Book of Golden Deeds award was Bob Kraemer. Kraemer spends the better part of his week juggling volunteer time as a Gilroy school board member, Bonfante Garden’s board president, a Leadership Gilroy board member and member of several other community-based organizations.
Kraemer was the only non-public safety officer to receive an exchange club award Wednesday, but his tireless effort brought one of the loudest outbursts of cheers from the audience that included local leaders such as County District 1 Supervisor Don Gage and school Superintendent Edwin Diaz.
Kraemer thanked his wife, Joanne, and the community for the award, while heads of local law enforcement and fire agencies praised – and joked with – their department’s award recipients.
Throughout the award presentations there were stories about the courageous efforts of a county firefighter award honoree who rescued a 98-year-old woman from a burning house, and there were tales about a local police officer getting sucker-punched by a naked mental patient who the officer eventually chased down and apprehended.
“There’s so much these people do for us that we take for granted,” said City Councilman Al Pinheiro, one of the original founders of the Exchange Club of Gilroy. “One day to give back is not enough, but we know it makes a difference.”
Throughout the awards, honorees and their guest were provided a free pasta lunch by Mama Mia’s restaurant, 1360 First St., and they were served by members of the non-profit Exchange Club.
Before the award presentations, the Exchange Club also presented new violins to two Gilroy elementary school students.
The students are both currently fifth graders at Antonio Del Buono Elementary School who take violin lessons twice a week, but they won’t have the opportunity to continue the lessons next year in Middle School.
Neither student can afford a violin, so with the urging of Antonio Del Buono music instructor Lori Franke the Exchange Club purchased violins for the two students, who each used their new instruments to give a brief performance to Wednesday’s honorees.
“This whole thing is about how each person can help their community if they want,” club president Bracco said. “We’re lucky to have so many leaders here to show us the way.”
The Exchange Club of Gilroy is a volunteer organization that meets at noon the first and third Wednesday of every month at Mama Mia’s restaurant.
