First Responder Awards Dinner Honors Eleven Agencies
Submitted by Bill Darr, PDDGER
On Thursday, September 10, Phoenix Elks Lodge #335 sponsored our First Responder Awards Dinner, hosting eleven agencies and departments that provide emergency services to the Phoenix Valley area. This is one of the many events our Lodge provides for our community partners, and we have conducted it for several years. It is always a most enjoyable evening, bonding citizens with individuals committed to protecting and serving their community.
Our guest list of emergency personnel and command staff included the Arizona Game and Fish Department; the Arizona Department of Public Safety; the Drug Enforcement Administration, Phoenix Field Office; the Daisy Mountain Fire Department; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Phoenix Field Office; the Maricopa County Emergency Management Department; the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office; the Paradise Valley Police Department; the Phoenix Fire Department; the Phoenix Police Department; and the United States Marshals Service, District of Arizona.
Each agency or department’s award recipient was honored by our Lodge with a dinner for the honoree, their family, guests and command staff members. Team leaders, supervisors and department heads spoke of accomplishments, achievements and individual or team triumphs displayed by their honoree in the last year. The descriptions of individual acts of heroism, selflessness, intestinal fortitude and love of community were engaging and thought-provoking, and we were left with a feeling of pride and security in knowing that our local emergency workforce is well equipped, motivated and competent in protecting and serving our community.
We were also quite fortunate to have State Vice President Jack Ponzo and his lovely wife, Cheryl, in attendance. Jack is the Past State Drug Awareness Chairman and has attended many of these events in Arizona over the years. We were grateful that he spoke about the BPOE’s partnership with the DEA and recognized the importance of all first responders engaged with community organizations such as the Elks.
It was heartwarming to see so many Elks members attend this event and support all our invitees. A special thanks to all the officers, staff and volunteers who set up, cooked, served and broke down the Vista Room for the ceremony and dinner. This event could not have run so smoothly without the hard work of Al Kayal, PSP, and Randy Sterling, PER.
If you want a great dinner and a “feel good” ceremony, make it a point to attend next year.
Originally published in the October 2026 Tracks newsletter of Phoenix Elks Lodge #335. Read the full issue (PDF).
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