Chris Kirwan was 19 when he joined the Marines in 2011.  Both of his parents were Marines, and during the war, he felt a calling to serve.  He served for a few weeks in Quantico during his time and eventually joined Combat Logistics Battalion 6 at the Marine Corps Base in Camp Lejeune, N.C.    He began his career in communication, and his responsibilities quickly grew to be more technical. Chris became responsible for repairing and maintaining communications equipment and vehicles.

In Southern Afghanistan, Chris served for five months in the Transportation Support Company of Combat Logistics Regiment 2.  Because of the intense nature of the team's operations, Chris found himself doing several different roles, from transporting the product to the front line, to downsizing sites, to taking calls and sweeping trucks for IEDs.   He was always committed to doing whatever was needed.

After returning to the States, he entered the reserves and eventually became a platoon sergeant.   In that role, he was able to mentor young marines who did not have combat experience or maturity that comes from active-duty experience. As his career in the Marines began to shift, he began to understand how challenging it could be for soldiers to deal with the trauma of combat and readjustment to civilian life.  Those challenges hit home in 2014 when one of the marines in his unit committed suicide. The following year, a marine who served under Chris in Afghanistan also killed himself. Their deaths and his work helping the greater marine community weighed on his heart, and by 2018 he knew that he had to do something.

Chris began to research ways to support local veterans and raise awareness about the frequency of suicide in the veteran community.  He saw that veterans were coming together to participate 22K walks or humps across the country. He could not find that anything like that was being done in his local community and knew that this type of program could have a tremendous impact.

In 2019, Chris hosted his first hump challenge.  In one day, participants walked 22 kilometers carrying 22 pounds in their packs.  Chris quickly learned that the experience meant much more than just raising awareness; it was an opportunity to reminisce and make a connection.  Chris found that it was rare that conversations during the hump drifted to the topic of suicide.  Instead, it was the exchange of stories and bonding with other veterans that were most powerful.  

To Chris, his fellow veterans are the most trusted people in his life.  Many veterans share the feeling that they can trust each other more than anyone else. He said that veterans often feel lonely when they return to civilian life and that this loneliness can lead people to struggle with feelings of isolation.  The 22k hump is an opportunity to remind each other that they are not alone and that there is always someone in the veteran community that will listen to them.

Despite the challenges of COVID in 2020, the hump was still a tremendous success. Chris's vision is to continue to grow the event over time and hopes that one day veterans can have more than one hump a year.

Award Sponsored by Colonial Pipeline Company

In the Air Force, Brian Mobley was an airplane mechanic who specialized in avionics.  After leaving the air force, he did not stay in the field of aviation. However, he did continue to serve the military community through his work as a veteran representative in the Lexington N. C. Works office. Working with veterans, enlisted soldiers, and their families has been a great joy in his life.

What is particularly interesting about Brian is that he is not a musician.  He didn't truly understand the impact that music can have on an individual's life until his dear friend, a lifelong musician, was left partially paralyzed after complications from surgery. Brian watched his friend spiral into depression, and it seemed to be accelerated when he could no longer play music.  Brian became determined to find a way for his friend to play.

Because of his work, Brian is familiar with numerous resources for veterans, but he could not find a group that was adapting instruments for paralyzed veterans.  He said, "Veterans don't leave anyone behind," and he was determined to help his friend play music again.  After careful thought and meditation, he determined that what his friend needed was a one-string instrument.  

Brian soon discovered a one-stringed American instrument commonly used in blues music called the diddley bow.  The instrument's concept is simple and often made by rigging a single string of baling wire between two nails on a board over a glass bottle.  However, a diddley bow requires two hands to play.  He began to think of ways to use this concept and adapt the instrument so that a person could support the instrument, hold the chord, and pluck the string.

His answer came to him when he discovered a tool called an ebow, which stands for "electronic bow" and can replace a pick on a guitar. With this gadget, he knew that there could be a way to sustain the vibration and change the chords by using a slide. Brian enlisted the help of a fellow veteran and engineer to design a holder for the e-bow that attaches to the diddley bow. This design allows the veteran to turn on the instrument and play it like a slide guitar.

With Brian's background in avionics, he designed and built an electrical instrument that is an adaption of the diddley bow.  In addition to adding the ebow, he created the instrument so that all of the controls are at the top. He has also found a guitar amplifier that will allow the player to play several different types of music.

Brian has worked closely with Marathon Jam (http://www.marathonjam.org/), a non-profit organization supporting veterans, first responders, and their families through music throughout this journey.  They are currently working on several projects together, including a concert with veterans that can showcase the incredible tonal quality of the instrument, a music instruction program for veterans, a musical therapy program with the Veteran's Administration, and they are exploring how they can produce and distribute adaptive instruments for injured veterans. 

Despite not having formal music training, Brian understands that music can be a powerful tool for healing.  When he started this journey, his only goal was to help his friend. Now he understands that adaptive instruments could change the lives of countless individuals. Whether a skilled musician like his friend, or someone who has never played an instrument, his invention will bring satisfaction and joy.

Award Sponsored by Reynolds American

On August 15, 2020, Officer Eric Monroy worked a vehicle accident on the interstate near Buffalo Creek.  The area had been experiencing torrential rains in the days before.  The water was high and flowing rapidly.  While assisting motorists at the accident scene, he witnessed a vehicle run off the interstate and crash into the water below.  Without hesitation, Officer Monroy immediately went to the location of the second accident.  

Another colleague happened to be nearby when the call came.  He was at the water within seconds of Officer Monroy getting to the scene. Upon arrival, he saw Officer Monroy removing his equipment and heading straight for the vehicle. He recalled that Officer Monroy's bravery was like nothing that he had ever seen. The water was six feet deep with raging rapids, yet the young father immediately took action.  The officers had a brief conversation about whether the other could swim. While they both grew up around the water, swift water rescues had not been a part of their formal training. Together, the men bravely fought to save the passenger.

Lieutenant Alexander Ricketts could not be prouder of these two officers.  Regarding Officer Monroy, he wrote, "he put his life on the line to save another without hesitation. He thought of others before he thought of himself. His self-sacrifice is what being in law enforcement is all about." Lieutenant Ricketts added the other officer deserves this "prestigious award because of his courage and dedication to the people of Greensboro. He entered the raging river with his subordinate without hesitation or reservation for his life. He went where danger was and overcame his fear to help save someone's life and assist his officer."

Their selfless actions, courage, and willingness to put others' lives before their own exemplify heroism.

Award Sponsored by Mickey Truck Bodies

Captain Curtis E. Woody, Jr. always knew that he wanted to be a fireman, but he did not know that he wanted it to be a full-time job. His father was a volunteer firefighter, and he knew that he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps.  However, when he started college, he studied architecture and fully expected to volunteer like his father. At the advice of a dear friend, who was also entering the academy, Captain Woody decided to change his path and enter the fire academy at Guilford Technical Community College. On November 1st, Captain Woody will celebrate his 20th anniversary as a firefighter. 

In 2012 Captain Woody felt the healthiest he had ever felt.  At the time, he didn’t feel afraid of anything.  His wife found a spot on his back, but against her advice, he waited for nearly a year before he saw a doctor.  When the dermatologist saw him, he immediately said, “I am 99.9% sure that you have cancer.”  Captain Woody said he was humbled very quickly after that.  He was scheduled for surgery almost immediately and was forced to rest for nearly two months during recovery.   

After he returned to work, his union president asked him to research cancer and fire service.  Through the research, he began to understand that cancer impacts firefighter disproportionately and soon discovered that even within his department, there were significant numbers of individuals diagnosed at some point during their careers. 

Captain Woody started to ask, “how can we prevent these things from happening?”  Right away, he created an internal Cancer Awareness and Prevention Team.  The team discussed ways that they could improve upon the decontamination process.  Many people do not realize how the skin absorbs many toxins, particularly in the neck area. Because of this, firefighters are at risk for exposure even after a fire is over.   

The Cancer Awareness and Prevention Team‘s first idea was to equip firetrucks with a decontamination bucket. Typically, these buckets would include dish soap, trash bags, scrub brushes, and baby wipes.  While using the decontamination buckets was not mandated, Captain Woody teamed with Firehouse Subs to supply each front line apparatus with the buckets and provide recommendations. 

Frequently the firetruck driver hoses off firefighters after exposure.  However, in doing so, drivers are inadvertently being exposed to splashback. Captain Woody could not rest until he found an alternate solution. It came to him during a trip to Lowe’s Hardware.  He found himself in the plumbing section surrounded by pipes and valves.  He says he sat on the floor tinkering and receiving advice from workers and other customers. He left Lowes with what would become the prototype for a valve and shower head system for the back of the fire truck that could be used individually and keep the driver from exposure.  

Captain Woody created an on-scene showerhead attachment that could be connected to a fire truck discharge port to wash off containments after working fire events.  Today there are 26 stations with the showerhead system on their trucks.  Two stations have ladder trucks with the equipment, and there are 24 engines. Several stations across the country are now using Captain Woody’s prototype, and one station in Ecuador is using it. 

Despite his accomplishments, Captain Woody feels that his work is only beginning. His department lost a firefighter in January due to cancer, and he wants to see more done to protect his colleagues. He advocates for legislation recognizing the health hazards for first responders and modifying firefighters' annual physicals to include more comprehensive testing for cancers.  Captain Woody is working with Duke Cancer Institute to research cancer and firefighters. They aim to determine which contaminants are causing such high cancer rates. He is also a driving force behind the GFD Peer Support Team.  His dedication to his community and his commitment to improving the lives of firefighters are unwavering. 

 Award Sponsored by Mickey Truck Bodies

Rebecca Swaim understands that being a veteran is a complex life.  Because she grew up in Havelock, NC, near Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, she knows how hard it can be for military spouses and the many challenges that come when serving in the military.  When she was a child, her father served in both the Navy and the Coast Guard. Her husband served in the National Guard.  While a medical condition kept Rebecca from enlisting in the military herself, she knew that she wanted to help her community and to support veterans in any way that she could. 

In college, Rebecca studied exercise science and became a certified EMT.  Although she took a few years off to raise her family, she was recertified two years ago and got a job immediately with Guilford County. While working as an Advanced EMT, Rebecca was also working with N.C. Serves. Rebecca's former supervisor, Paul Berry, shared that while working with N.C. Serves she assisted over 2,000 veterans and veteran family members. Whether they needed financial assistance or shared that they were contemplating suicide, Rebecca was always committed to listening to their needs, finding them resources, and voicing messages of hope to them. 

Rebecca's selfless dedication to the community extends to her work with Guilford County, where she has been directly responsible for saving the lives of countless citizens.  Her hard work and willingness to take on new challenges helped earn her acceptance into the Guilford County Paramedic Academy. This 9-month program is highly competitive and requires participants to complete an accelerated learning curriculum while working as an EMT. 

Despite the rigor of her responsibilities in the paramedic academy, Rebecca remains committed to serving service members, veterans, and their families.  She maintains relationships with many of her co-workers and the community members that she supported at N.C. Serves and remains committed to helping where she is needed.  Rebecca understands that there are many ways to solve problems, and it takes multiple groups to come together. 

Rebecca lost her mother last October before she knew of her acceptance into the academy.  She regrets that she could not share the news with her mom because her mom always encouraged her to pursue her dreams. Rebecca loves the work that she does and is eager to have the knowledge and experience to serve in the best way possible.  Of serving Guilford County, she said, "Many of us have had our struggles and share a lived experience. It comes naturally, and we know where some of these people have been." Knowing that she can make someone's life better drives her to do the work that she does and continuously seek ways to serve. 

Award Sponsored by UnitedHealthcare

When Jan Clifford was a little girl, she lived on a farm in Wisconsin.  Her family was large, and her father was adamant that the children could not have a horse.  After years of begging and pleading for a horse, Jan decided to buy one herself. She saved all the money that she could from babysitting to make her dream come true. 

Jan says that she always felt more connected to animals than people. She knew that she wanted to work with animals but spent her early career as a bookkeeper.  An opportunity came up to rent a boarding facility in Texas, and Jeri could not say no.  It was an experience that taught her that she also enjoyed working with kids as much as she enjoyed working with horses. 

When she moved to North Carolina in 1994, she understood that horses could be more than just recreation for children, and she got the idea to use horses in therapeutics.  She found working with individuals who were disabled was incredibly fulfilling work. After researching the possibilities and learning the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship guidelines, she knew that she had found exactly what she wanted to do. In 1995, Jan founded the HORSEPOWER Therapeutic Learning Center, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization serving the North Carolina Piedmont Triad community. The organization provides therapeutic horseback riding and equine-assisted therapy. 

Almost immediately, her program began to grow.  Today she has 17 horses, three full-time instructors, and three more instructors are currently getting certified.  Among her many programs, she offers therapeutic riding for individuals with physical, mental, or emotional disorders, programs for veterans, and a personal achievement program for at-risk youth.  Jan says that horses love unconditionally and that they are willing to do anything for you.  She believes that when people witness this selflessness, they also understand that they can give and receive that from other people. 

Despite the challenges of holding the program in 2020, this summer will be the biggest she has had in 20 years.  Jan said, “When you do something out of kindness, you may not realize the impact that it makes on the person that receives…  You were able to run two miles today, but this person could walk three steps today.  We see people smile, and that is enough. We don’t gauge success in the same way.” 

Jan says that volunteers who spend one hour might not think it makes a difference, but it does.  If you would like to get involved with HORSEPOWER, Jan’s mantra is, “we can use whatever talents you have to fit our needs.”  

Award Sponsored by WXII

When she first moved to North Carolina, Jeri Phillips knew that she wanted a job serving her community.  In Alabama, her husband had been a police officer, and Jeri knew the importance of being a 911 operator. In October, Jeri will have worked at Guilford Metro 911 for six years.

Jeri cannot count the number of times a non-English speaker has called 911 needing help but cannot communicate the nature of those needs. Operators can often tell by the caller's tone the severity of the situation; however, they cannot always discern what language the caller is speaking to identify which translator can best assist them.  

While it was not uncommon to receive a call from a non-English speaker, in May 2018, her department, along with the greater community of first responders, were faced with the more significant implications of the issue.  On that night, a call came in from a panicked individual who could not describe the nature of the emergency. The caller could not answer if it were a medical, police, or fire emergency.  The caller could not provide an address. The caller could not tell the operator what language he spoke. Although Guilford Metro 911 was able to detect a general location, the team could not get a specific address.  Hearing the fear in the man's voice, the team deployed fire, police, and EMS to the cell phone's location.

When emergency crews arrived, they realized that it was an apartment fire. Although crews arrived within four minutes of receiving the call, five children under eight lost their lives. The loss was devasting to the first responders and the entire community.  The devastation left Jeri wondering how could this situation have changed?

The answer came to Jeri when she was sitting in church one Sunday, and there was a call for volunteers willing to read to people in English. She decided to volunteer and to invite her coworker along. When they arrived, they realized that the location was in an area where they receive a high call volume. Through volunteering, they also began to understand that the language barrier issues went well beyond emergency calls.

While volunteering one evening, the participants were learning the word tired.  The teacher was acting out tired through pantomime.  One participant said that she understood and began to express that she was tired. She then relayed a situation to the teacher where someone was regularly stealing money from her paycheck because they knew that she would not reach out and report the thief.  Jeri learned that the woman would not call 911 because she was afraid.

Jeri began to understand that many immigrant and refugee populations are fearful of the police and first responders. Frequently, these people have fled circumstances that make them unknowing of who to trust in the United States.  Many of these individuals are only meet emergency personnel when there is a crisis.  Jeri understood that the community's needs were twofold. First, they needed to teach non-English speakers to answer three key questions:

1. What type of emergency do they have?
2. What is their address?
3. What language do they speak?

Second, the foreign national community needed to connect with and meet emergency personnel in non-crisis times to understand that first responders are not a threat and that their mission is to serve in times of need.

In 2020, Jeri and her coworker developed an action plan to present to Guilford Metro leadership. They aim to work with the sheriff's department, police department, fire department, and EMT to engage these communities directly.  Doing so will help build trust and be an opportunity to teach non-English speakers exactly what information they must be able to say in English when they have to call 911 for an emergency.

Today Jeri is grateful and honored to be recognized by Salute to Heroes.  More than anything, though, she is excited about the opportunity to raise awareness about the community's needs. 

Award Sponsored by UnitedHealthcare