The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-08
POLICEMEN AND
FIRE BOYS ARE
DECORATED.
Medals for VaIor Are Pre-
scented by Colonel Keller at
Impressive Ceremony.
Continued from Page 16)

mere may serve as an inspiration
but they are not. in any sense in
tended as an Incentive to valor
The Washington police and fire de
partments do not need special in
-eentives. They do their duty when
ever and wherever it may appear,
without thought of recognition
merely because it is their duty.
1.-THE history and tradition of our
wonderful police and fire depart
ments-the records of men living
and dead-tfe names of men who
have given up their lives, the
stories of whose deeds will ring
down through the ages-form an
inspiration beside which all else
fades into comparative oblivion.
The splendid leaders of these men
: s-who have risen to their present
ranks through sheer force of spirit
through service sustained and
continued-they, too, are daily in
SEPARATIONS to useful and meritorious
work.
"These service bars and these
medals are not something for which
one is expected to compete. They
are merely an indication of the
spirit of Washington toward the
men in its Police and Fire Depart
ments--toward those men whose
names have stood out prominently
in the work of the past year. 1t
would be impossible to recognize all
the meritorious service rendered to
the public by these departments.
1t would be impossible even to
recognize each of the individuals
who has contributed to the success
of their work.
even now bending over his books
perhaps a signal operator in some
out-of-the-way fire station or police
precautionary be a greater hero
than any of these. Let us hope
that If such there be, he or she
viii, in due course of time, receive
the merited recognition in material
and substantial way"
Speaks of Knickerbocker.
In speaking of the Knickerhoclzer
disaster, Colonel Keller paid tribute
to Fire Chief George S. Watson.
who directed the rescue work. He
also Iauded the members of the
Fire Department who were on duty
that night.
THE city is proud of each and
every one of you men,, he de-
clared, you did your work more
than well. Your achievement CT
that night will go down IN the
and the memories and your splen-
did work win be carried through
the ages"
The presentation of the Knicker-
booker awards, each award repre-
senting a citation by the District
Commissioners, followed. Battalion
Chief p. r. Davis called out the
names of the fire chiefs and then
called the various companies. More
than 800 firemen We're decorated.
The valorous service-barS were
pinned on their coats by Commits
sicner Keller. and Mr.. Marks and
Vincent Callahan. of The Times.
Additional Awards Follow.
Additional awards followed. Col
onel Keller said in explanation:
There is inaugurated in the Po-
lice and Fire Departments this year
another custom which has the ap-
prevail and highest cooperation of
the Board of District Commission
ers-the award of meritorious sery-
ice bars to members of the depart
ment who have been cited by the
Commissioners or by their superior
officers for extraordinary vaIor."
AS the names of the firemen cited
for valor were read these men came
on the stage, and Colonel Keller
pinned plum-colored service bars on
their coats.
Colonel Keller then spoke of the
heroic work of members Of the
Police Department. He mentioned
specially seven men who have been
cited for individual bravery. These
men were called to the platform
and on their breasts were pinned
light blue yalorous service bars.
The next awards We're the two
gold medals. Colonel Keller pre-
scented the fire medal to Chief
Davis Of the Fire Department with
instructions to hold it in trust until
a later date when it would be
awarded to a fireman for individual
bravery. He explained that the
citizens committee selected Chief
Watson as the man to receive the
medal. He said the committee
offered it to Chief Watson for his
work at the Knickerbocker. The
chief, he said, declined on the
ground that any honors for this
work should go to every member
Of the department. Illness of the
chief prevented his attendance last
night.
! Jones Gets Hero Medal.
Robert Lee Jones, of the Eighth
police precinct, received the gold
medal for 1922. 1t was awarded to
him for performing the most heroic
: recorded deed in the Fire Depart
ment in 1922. He, at the risk of his
. life, saved a woman from being run
over by a street car. He was
injured. Colonel Keller said he felt
It was a great honor to bestow the
gold medal on Jones
1.-The Death of Custer by the
band, concluded the program.
Gus Buchholz, manager of the
Occidental Hotel. who is now in Cali
fornia, but who is expected back
shortly, sent word to The Times to-
day that he wished to entertain at a
dinner in his restaurant the gold
medal winners of the Police and Fire
departments, together with those of
previous years. The date of the
dinner will be announced later.
Detective Sergeant Arthur Scriv-
ener, of headquarters, and former
Fireman Frank Neuman, both gold
medal winners of previous years,
were guests of honor last night.
At the dinner at the Occidental
additional awards will be made. The