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Honoring our First Responders –
‘Grateful is an insufficient word’

ƒ‹Ž–‘ ƒ•‘• ‘‹ ‘†‰‡ ‘Ǥ ͛͠ ”‡ ‘‰‹œ‡† –Š”‡‡ Ƥ”•– Next to give out an award was William Torres, Director of
responders for their outstanding service to the surrounding EMS and Emergency Preparedness at Bitterroot Health.
community. The event was attended by over 60 people,  •’‡ƒ‹‰ ‘ –Š‡ Ƥ”•– ”‡•’‘†‡”• ”‡ ‡‹˜‹‰ –Š‡•‡ ƒ™ƒ”†•ǡ
friends and family of those being recognized. The event was Torres said, “They don’t do it for the recognition, and they
opened by the Lodge Master, Fred Harbeck, who said, “This certainly don’t do it for the pay.” Torres nominated Grant
is, in my opinion, the most important event we put on all Bierer, a critical care paramedic. Torres talked about Bierer’s
year.” varied service and extensive training and knowledge. Bierer
has been with EMS for over 35 years, saying, “I don’t think
During his introduction of the event, Harbeck listed some of I deserve this award. I appreciate the family and support
–Š‡ •ƒ ”‹Ƥ ‡• ”‡•’‘†‡”• ƒ‡ ƒ† •ƒ‹† –Š‡› ”ƒ”‡Ž› ”‡ ‡‹˜‡ that I have.” In a later interview, he recalled how he started
ƒ› ”‡ ‘‰‹–‹‘ ˆ‘” –Š‘•‡ ƒ –‹‘•Ǥ Dz ”ƒ–‡ˆ—Ž ‹• ƒ ‹•—ƥ ‹‡– with EMS as an accident. A close friend committed suicide,
™‘”†ǡdz •ƒ‹† ƒ”„‡  „‡ˆ‘”‡ Šƒ†‹‰ –Š‡ ƪ‘‘” ‘ơ –‘ –Š‡ and Bierer wanted to get some medical training after that
event’s guest speaker, Timothy Allred, executive director of experience. Soon, he was asked to ride along and volunteer
—„Ž‹ ƒˆ‡–› ƥ ‡”• –ƒ†ƒ”†• ƒ† ”ƒ‹‹‰ —”‡ƒ— ȋ ȌǤ with the ambulance, and the rest was history.

POST is responsible for much of the training
ƒ† •–ƒ†ƒ”†‹œƒ–‹‘ ‘ˆ Ƥ”•– ”‡•’‘†‡”
performance. They are also the ones that
ƒ’’”‘˜‡ ‘” ”‡˜‘‡ ‡”–‹Ƥ ƒ–‹‘• ˆ‘” Žƒ™
‡ˆ‘” ‡‡– ‘ƥ ‡”•Ǥ ŽŽ”‡† •’‘‡ ƒ„‘—–
his career with POST and gave background
‘ –Š‡‹” ‹ƪ—‡ ‡ ‘ Žƒ™ ‡ˆ‘” ‡‡– ‹
Montana.

Allred, from Helena, spoke on what law
‡ˆ‘” ‡‡– ƒ† ‘–Š‡” Ƥ”•– ”‡•’‘†‡”•
face every day when they go to work. He
spoke on the true meaning of character and
how it is something no one can take from a
’‡”•‘ ƒ† •‘‡–Š‹‰ ”‡†‡Ƥ‡† ‡˜‡”› †ƒ›
by a person’s actions. According to Allred,
‘–ƒƒ Šƒ• ƒ ”‡’—–ƒ–‹‘ ˆ‘” ‘ƥ ‡”• ‘ˆ
‰”‡ƒ– Šƒ”ƒ –‡”ǡ ƒ† ‘ƥ ‡”• ˆ”‘ ƒ ”‘••
the country want to move to Montana. In
his position as POST executive director, one
of his duties is overseeing applications from FEBRUARY 6, 2024 , Responder award recipients and nominators stand for a
out-of-state transfers. He said that in 2017, photo after the ceremony. L-R: William Torres, Grant Bierer, Zae Hudson, Stephen
Ž‡•• –Šƒ ͙͘ ‘ƥ ‡”• ™‡”‡ ™ƒ–‹‰ –‘ –”ƒ•ˆ‡” Holton, Chris Lueck, Steve Snavely and Timothy Allred.
to Montana. In 2020, there were over 100. Reproduced from the Bitterroot Star Newspaper, article and photo by John Dowd
“We do have a reputation here,” said Allred.
The next to be introduced to speak was Hamilton Mayor The last to step up to give out an award was the Chief of
Dominic Farrenkopf, who thanked everyone for coming out the Hamilton Police Department, Steve Snavely. Snavely
and said we should all be thankful for the service of these nominated Chris Lueck and said he “is the embodiment
and other responders. After the mayor, Ravalli County of community service, noting Lueck currently serves the
Commissioner Dan Huls stepped up to speak, asking us to ‘—‹–› ƒ• ƒ ’‘Ž‹ ‡ ‘ƥ ‡”ǡ • Š‘‘Ž ”‡•‘—” ‡ ‘ƥ ‡” ˆ‘” ˆ‘—”
Dz”‡ ‘‰‹œ‡ –Š‡ •ƒ ”‹Ƥ ‡• ‘—” Ƥ”•– ”‡•’‘†‡”• ƒ‡ ‡˜‡”› • Š‘‘Ž• ‹ –Š‡ ƒ”‡ƒǡ ƒ† ƒ Ƥ”‡ Š‹‡ˆ ‹ –Š‡ ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ —ƒ”†Ǥ
single day.” Leuck has been with the Hamilton Police Department for
Ƥ˜‡ ›‡ƒ”• ƒ† –Š‡ ”› ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ —ƒ”† ˆ‘” ͙͠ ›‡ƒ”•Ǥ ˆ–‡”
ˆ–‡” ‘’‡‹‰ •’‡‡ Š‡• ƒ† ‘‡–• ‘ Ž—†‡†ǡ –Š‡ Ƥ”•– receiving the award, Lueck said, “I’m very humbled. I don’t
to step up with their nomination for an award was Ravalli think I did anything out of the ordinary.”
‘—–› Š‡”‹ơ –‡’Š‡ ‘Ž–‘Ǥ ‘Ž–‘ ƒŽŽ‡† ‘ ‡–‡ –‹˜‡
Lieutenant Zae Hudson to receive an award of recognition. Harbeck said after the event that this was the seventh event
Holton spoke on Hudson’s constant reliability and endless of its kind the lodge has hosted. They started doing it because
•‡”˜‹ ‡ –‘ Š‹• ‘—‹–›Ǥ —†•‘ •‡”˜‡† ™‹–Š –Š‡ Š‡”‹ơǯ• they felt no one else was. “They just deserve our recognition,”
Department for 25 years, and the award recipient said he was said Harbeck about the responders in the community.
“honored and humbled” to receive the award.

Montana Freemason Page 26 April/May 2024 Volume 100 No.2