Annawon Lodge, 115, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of West Haven honored West Haven fire, police and dispatch personnel and one teenage civilian at the lodge’s First Responder Awards Dinner last week. The dinner was attended by Mayor Nancy Rossi and nearly 100 uniformed first responders and their families and friends. .
Among the honorees were Acting West Haven Police Chief Joseph Perno, City of West Haven Fire Department, Allingtown Acting Fire Chief Michael Esposito, West Haven Center District Firefighter Jonathan Drost, West Shore Fire Department Lt.t Rebecca Wilson, 911 Dispatch Director Jennifer A. Amendola and University of New Haven Police Chief Tracy Mooney.
Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to former Allingtown and City of West Haven Fire Chief Councilman Peter Massaro (D-6) and former Connecticut State Commissioner of Public Safety and UNH director of Forensic Science Dr. Henry C. Lee.
Lee, was in Saudi Arabia at the time of the ceremony. His wife Jiang Lee accepted the award on his behalf and thanked the Masons through interpreter Tianyin Yu.
Also honored at the awards dinner was Reuben Clarke, a West Haven teenager who sprang into action on Thanksgiving eve, while on an Amtrak train traveling from upstate New York, when he pulled the emergency brake after noticing two cars coming unattached from the rest of the train.
The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute freshman is credited for possibly saving the lives of 287 passengers and crew. Clarke graduated from Notre Dame High School last June. He is an offensive limeman for the RPI football team. His mother, Phoebe Greenfield accepted the award on Clarke’s behalf.
Annawon Lodge Worshipful Master Steven R. Mullins said that proceeds from the dinner went to WHEAT’s Roof Replacement Fund. The lodge raised $1,000 for the fund.