Faithful Servants Awards led by Bishop Adonteng Boateng honours Northern Virginia first responders

Faithful Servants Awards led by Bishop Adonteng Boateng and Fairfax County Communities of Trust Committee (COTC) on Friday, March 5, 2021, honored the Northern Virginia First Responder Agencies in a simple but beautiful and well organized event at their global headquarters in the United States.

The event, dubbed Faithful Servants Awards, honors men and women working in the field of law enforcement and fire and rescue, as well as private citizens, for their dedication, support, and community service.

What made this year’s Faithful Servants Awards peculiar, as discovered by TheAfricanDream.net, is that in previous years, like the inaugural one in 2018, awards were given to individuals selected by their respective their agencies, however, due to effects of COVID-19, this year the awards scheme focused on collectively recognizing the agencies.

“In my mind, every individual from these collection agencies across the board delivered an excellently selfless account of themselves. They all showed absolute and outstanding humanity in the face of a deadly pandemic, sometimes even to the point of putting their own lives at peril to save others — yes we know they do it all the time, but have you walked a mile in their shoes to appreciate the gravity of the work they do,” Bishop Kofi Adonteng Boateng rhetorically asked TheAfricanDream.net in an interview at the event.

Meet the 2021 “Faithful Servant Award” awardees

Overall a total of 21 police departments, fire and rescue departments, sheriff offices and Virginia State Police, from across the Northern Virginia area, received the “Excellence in Community Service Award” in recognition and appreciation of their support and outstanding community service during COVID-19. They represented Fairfax, Prince William, Arlington, Stafford and Loudoun Counties. Also represented were the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church as well as the Town of Vienna.

Receiving the award on behalf of their departments were Interim Chief Andy Penn, Major Tara Johnson, Captain II Richard Shupe, Acting Captain Courtney Ballantine, Randolph Woodson, LT Ronnie Lewis, and Major Daniel Janickey. Others are Asst.

Chief Thomas Arnold, Sheriff Stacy Kincaid, Captain Steve Pihonak, Cpt David Smith, LTC Christopher Hines, Chief Tim Keen, Interim Chief David Rohrer, Chief Peter Newsham. Chief Joseph Cardello, Sheriff Glendell Hill, Major Jason Dembowski, and Captain J-P N. Koushel. Community members receiving the “Community Excellence Award” were Sarah and George Barber, Beverly Howard and Willie Bailey.

Bishop Boateng presented a monetary donation to the COTC to assist them in continuing their support to the community and first responders, especially those who have lost family members due to COVID-19. Sheriff Stacy Kincaid presented the “Soaring Eagle Award” to Bishop Boateng for their continued and exceptional community engagement and support.

Bishop Boateng in tan-like color suit seen seated with some of the first responders and security agents at the event in a photo courtesy of DWIM Media

The Master of Ceremony was First Sergeant Kenneth Blank of Virginia Department of State Police. The program began with the Presentation of Colors by the Prince William County Color Guard. COTC Chair, Shirley Ginwright, provided remarks on the occasion stating “Under normal circumstances, you find yourself faced with all the extraordinary challenges. Here we are, in the age of COVID-19 pandemic which has added additional risk to your everyday task. Risk that has not prevented you from fulfilling your duties to the highest standards and expectations…”

Chairman Jeff McKay’s remarks at the event

In a video broadcast that was captured by TheAfricanDream.net at the event, Chairman Jeff McKay of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, thanked the COTC for “putting this event together today and also for the work they do year-round to build trust within our community and the men and women in law enforcement.

Chairman McKay went on to say “Today you recognize our great police officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMT personnel, and Sheriff’s deputies in Fairfax County and throughout the region,” he congratulated everyone involved in this great work, especially in these trying times.

Written by Oral Ofori