PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Sept. 18, 2008) -- Governor Donald L. Carcieri and Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis will honor seven local heroes with the State Lifesaving Medal for their roles rescuing people from death in separate incidents in Charlestown, Cranston and West Greenwich. The public is invited to join in the ceremony today at 2 p.m. in the State Room at the State House.
West Greenwich police officer Donald Farvala will be honored for pulling a Gloucester woman out of a blazing car moments before it exploded following a July 7 traffic accident. Officer Farvala was nominated by state Rep. Ray Sullivan, whose district includes West Greewich.
Rhode Island state troopers Michael Rosa and Matthew Salisbury will be honored for their heroics when a blaze tore through a tenement that was home to three Cranston families on May 29. The troopers were nominated by State Police Col. Brendan Doherty.
Bristol father and son team Stephen Zasowski and Joshua Zasowski, Sherry Sherman of Charlestown and Albert Dinwoodie of Westerly will be honored for their roles in saving a drowning man at Burlingame State Park in Charlestown on Aug. 17. They were nominated by R.I. Dept. of Environmental Management Director W. Michael Sullivan.
The State Lifesaving Medal recognizes the heroism of a firefighter, volunteer firefighter, police officer or other citizen who saves human life in Rhode Island.
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