Medals of honor were given to all branches of the FDNY at the department’s annual Medal Day ceremony to honor the men and women of New York’s Bravest.  

Firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, fire marshals and EMS officers were commemorated for their lifesaving work in 2022. The Captain Alison Russo North Star Medal was awarded to Capt. Edgar Baez for his leadership when Russo was fatally stabbed in Queens.  

"Calm sometimes doesn't happen when you're dealing with New York City,” said Baez. “At dispatch, we sometimes have to deal with what we call the organized chaos and try to straighten out the situation." 

Four medals were awarded to those who fought the January 2022 Twin Parks fire that killed 17 people in the Bronx.  

Firefighter William Moon was also posthumously honored. He died as the result of a training drill.