Colleagues give belated TIP of the hat to firefighter for his ‘Heroes with Heart’ award

He couldn’t make it to the gala dinner last week to pick up his award, so his colleagues delivered the award to him Friday.

In a presentation Nov. 13, Anaheim Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Pat Russell handed over to Firefighter Engineer Denny Munson a “Heroes with Heart” award.

Munson shared the award with three other crewmembers from Anaheim Fire & Rescue’s Station 11 for showing compassion above and beyond the call of duty on a call in January involving a woman who died.

The Trauma Intervention Program (tiporangecounty.org) presented its annual “Heroes with Hearts” awards at the Anaheim Hilton on Thursday, Nov. 5, honoring 24 first responders and nurses.

Anaheim Fire & Rescue Firefighter Engineer Denny Munson, left, receives the TIP award from Deputy Chief Pat Russell during a small ceremony at Station 1 on Friday, Nov. 13. 
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC

TIP is an army of 99 volunteers who provide emotional first aid to people roiled by trauma so professionals like Munson and his AF&R colleagues can be freed up to perform their jobs.

On Jan. 21, 2015, TIP volunteer Peggy Awalt was called to a residence to support the daughter of the woman who had died.

“Once there,” Awalt wrote in her “Heroes with Heart” nomination, “I encountered the crew of Anaheim Fire and Rescue’s Station 11…Capt. Andy Ball, Engineer Roger Domen, Firefighter Denny Munson and Firefighter Jeremy Keith.

“When I arrived, this crew was providing amazing emotional support and compassion to the daughter. Each crew member was expressing their condolences, and before they left each gave the daughter a hug.”

Anaheim Fire & Rescue Firefighter Engineer Denny Munson, center left, holds his TIP award and recognition certificates with Deputy Chief Pat Russell and his colleagues at Anaheim Fire & Rescue Station 1 after a small presentation ceremony Friday.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC

Anaheim Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Pat Russell, right, congratulates Firefighter Engineer Denny Munson for his “Heroes with Heart” award.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC