Bethany-Fenwick chamber to honor 14 first responders on Feb. 21

The Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce will honor 14 emergency personnel with the 2025 Joshua M. Freeman First Responder Awards on Feb. 21 at Signatures at Bayside.

The awards are presented by the Carl M. Freeman Companies and honor first responders for their service and commitment.

Those being recognized are:

(Officers of the Year) Sgt. Brandon Elliott, Bethany Beach Police Department; CPL Christopher Story, Fenwick Island Police Department; Officer Dylan Murphy, Ocean View Police Department; PFC Killian Klopp, Selbyville Police Department; and Officer Matthew Boyd, South Bethany Police Department.

(Firefighters and EMT of the Year) Dillon Baker, Bethany Beach Volunteer Company.

(Firefighters of the Year) Walter Johnson & Greg Tietmeyer, Millville Volunteer Fire Company; and Brendan Stevens, Frankford Volunteer Fire Company.

(EMTs and Paramedics of the Year) Austen Kauffman, Sussex County EMS; Alfred J. Moore, Millville Volunteer Fire Company; Luke Iseman, Roxana Volunteer Fire Company; Cody Bowden, Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company; and R.J. Senseny, Frankford Volunteer Fire Company.

One of the nominees will be awarded the top honor of the Overall Valor Award, which was renamed in 2007, in memory of the late developer and philanthropist, Joshua M. Freeman. Recent Overall Valor Award Winners include Maria Berdan of Sussex County EMS (2022); William Parramore, Roxana Volunteer Fire Company (2023); and Cameron Clift, Fenwick Island Police Department (2024).

In 2024, the event’s first Good Samaritan Award was given to Sean Ely for his heroism in an ocean rescue. The Chamber and Bethany Beach Books sponsor will honor another member of the community this year.

“The alarm sounds, and it is hard not to immediately think of all these men and women who are leaving their families to spring into action. As the community continues to grow and emergency calls are more prevalent, there is no better time than now to show gratitude and elevate the importance of those responding,” says Chamber Director Lauren Weaver.

Support for this event is provided by the Carl M. Freeman Companies, Banks Wines & Spirits, Coastal Point, Delmarva Power, Mountaire Farms, Taylor Bank, Wilgus Associates, State Farm Agent – Billy Reese, Anne Powell – Coldwell Banker Realty, Beebe Healthcare, Bethany Beach Books & The Book Drop, The Law Offices of Scott & Shuman, and PNC Bank. For more information, visit thequietresorts.com.