THOMASVILLE- The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4995 presented two Public Service Awards during the Thomas County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, honoring the work civil servants do daily.

Every year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars recognize the public servants of every county and municipality in the state.

The first award is known as the VFW National Emergency Medical Technical Servant Citation.

Individuals given this award had to first be recognized by their colleagues for their work or those they serve, show consistent excellence in their performances and show dedication and continuous growth in their field for a number of years.

Mark Sealy, an EMS emergency medical technician, was recognized with this award by Greg Thweatt, commander of the local Allen Cook VFW Chapter 4995, for “exemplary service to humanity by administering emergency medical assistance.”

Sealy was also provided with a challenge coin for the Emergency Medical Association embossed with a picture of a helicopter and an ambulance.

Following a round of applause, Lt. April Robinson of E-911 was presented with a second award.

Thweatt acknowledged he has used E-911 in often frantic situations, but Robinson and her colleagues always manage to calm the situation.

“Without them, the Sheriff’s Department, the EMT Department, and all those would not be able to respond to our frantic calls, and we really appreciate you guys” Thweatt said.

Robinson received the VFW National 911 Dispatcher Public Servant Citation for “extraordinary service to humanity by administering the vital link between caller, the distressed person, and emergency services.”

This award is presented to any individual or group who serves in a municipal, county, state, or federal unit tasked with providing the vital link between callers in distress and emergency response teams by obtaining essential information to send the appropriate responders to the right location.

Robinson was additionally provided a coin and congratulated by Thweatt for a job well done.