Family, friends and colleagues gathered Friday evening in Greenbelt American Legion Post 136 to recognize the service and sacrifice of police, firefighters, public works employees and those who support them.
Post 136 Commander Greg Gigliotti welcomed attendees to the banquet and awards ceremony in Samuel M. Hofberg Hall, and a police color guard presented the Maryland and U.S. flags.
The Greenbelt Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad honored Kathy Reynolds as Ladies Auxiliary member of the year. Chief Richard Bowers of the Greenbelt Police Department named Officer 1st Class Ryan Aud police officer of the year and Communications Specialist II Sarah Gignac civilian employee of the year. Transportation operator Brian Allen was named the Greenbelt Department of Public Works’ employee of the year.
The honorees share a joy in serving others.
Reynolds, 79, of Greenbelt, is chaplain of the Ladies’ Auxiliary, but has served as vice president and secretary. She has been part of the Ladies’ Auxiliary for over 48 years.
“It is my joy,” Reynolds said. “To walk in that firehouse … and to know that I’m a small part of it.”
Reynolds described preparing and providing meals and beverages for firefighters out on box alarms – large fires requiring the efforts of several fire departments.
“Being in the kitchen and creating and knowing that it’s going to make someone happy or put a smile on their face,” Reynolds said, is the favorite part of her work.
Bowers said Gignac likely saved an infant’s life when she dispatched officers to respond to a fire call for service reporting that the infant was not breathing. Though it was not a police call, Greenbelt officers arrived before the Fire Department and began life-saving aid.
“If not for her quick thinking that night in sending officers, that child may not have survived,” Bowers said.
According to Bowers, Aud participates in activities with Greenbelt residents, playing basketball and baseball with youth at Franklin Park as well as “doing the part that we all get involved in law enforcement for, which is to protect residents and really make our streets and our city safer.”
Allen, 52, of Bowie, said there was no question whether he would continue to drive the Greenbelt Connection bus during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“There were people that were very fearful that I was allowed to comfort all the way through, and just allow them to know it was going to be alright,” Allen said.
Public Works Director Willis Shafer said Allen took people to stores and doctor’s appointments – even chemotherapy treatments – and that he answers the phone saying, “Good morning. Today is a great day.”
Allen said he provides people with human connection.
“Everybody doesn’t have somebody. Just to be that person … you can make them feel like they do. Because they do,” Allen said.
Stephanie Quinn is a graduate student in journalism at the University of Maryland writing for the News Review.
