I said, “We gotta go,” grabbed her arm, and we dashed off. —John Paul Hollyfield, Carnegie Medal awardee #9962, who saved a 6-year-old girl from being crushed by a falling tree limb.
The distinction evident in this nomination is that John had a choice to save [my son] that day. He wasn’t bound to an oath. He wasn’t forced to place his life in danger. He wasn’t even asked to do so … Solely out of the content of his character, John sprang into action, taking every possible measure to save a child from dying. —Mother of 10-year-old boy saved from drowning by John Gerard O’Rourke, Carnegie Medal awardee #9993.
I can’t tell you how much courage, how much bravery that took, for you to get out of your car. —Police chief to Vickie Tillman, Carnegie Medal awardee #10000, who rescued a police officer from assault.
We were in the right place at the right time to do the right thing. We are all blessed. — Deanne M. Kilian, Carnegie Medal awardee #10021.
That’s not his job, but he just reacted. And the way he reacted was spectacular. —Man saved from assault by Richard R. Krul, Carnegie Medal awardee #10023.
It’s weird getting a pat on the back from police instead of a pat-down. —Ron Allen Elko, Carnegie Medal awardee #10016.
In a way, my cancer was a blessing, because it put me in that situation. If I didn’t have cancer, and I didn’t survive, I would have never been there that night. — Noah Hill King, Carnegie Medal awardee #9980 , who was returning home from speaking at a Relay for Life event when he came across a burning vehicle.
I’m not a fire fighter or a hero. I just did what I would do for anyone. — Andrew L. Melhado, Carnegie Hero #9998.
None of us in this room except for one knows how we would react in this type of situation, in that type of danger. We know that Robin made that decision. We’re proud of the decision that Robin made that day. — Police chief about Robin Ireland, Carnegie Medal awardee #9972.
I wasn’t thinking anything at all. He needed help, and I wanted to help him. — Karen Marie Mallon, Carnegie Medal awardee #9997, referring to assisting Zachary J. Corey, Carnegie Medal awardee #9996, in removing two children from a burning car.
When she started going under, at that point I had to jump in, and it was cold. She told me she loved me, and I said, “I love you too or I wouldn’t be in here with you.” — Brian R. Gadwell, Carnegie Medal awardee #10010, recounting his act where he saved a woman he did not know from drowning.
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