Gulfport Fire Engineer named 2020 First Responder of the Year

2020 has not been easy on first responders, but Keesler Federal Credit Union’s First Responder of the Year program is taking time to honor many of those deserving people, including a member of the Gulfport Fire Department.

- 2020 has not been easy on first- responders, but keesler federal- credit union's first responder- of the year program is- taking time to honor many of- those deserving people, - including - a member of the gulfport fire - department.

- news 25's ashleigh fortenberry- has the details.- - for 6 years, the keesler federa- credit union's first responder- of the year program has - honored hundreds of first - responders- serving their community bravely- nats- gulfport fire department- engineer jon wilson has been- with the department since 2015.- this year, he is the keesler- federal credit union's first- responder of the year - jon wilson, , gulfport fire - department engineer - "my battalion chief mentioned t me that he had put me up for it- then i went on vacation and cam- - - - back to find that i had won it- so that was really nice."

First responders run toward - danger.

- witnessing the courage of his - co-workers makes this honor - a humbling experience for - wilson.

- "i was excited.

Kind of in shock.

Everybody works so hard,- especially at gulfport fire.

It- an organization with so many- great smart people.

I certainly- wouldn't think i- would be the one to get it so - its certainly an honor.

Day one- i - went in and took the test and i- knew it was where i wanted- to be.

Its an honor to work her- with so many amazing men- and women."

Ashleigh fortenberry- "the keesler federal credit union first responder of- the year program honors 79 firs- responders- across three states from police- fire, and emergency - response personel."

Gulfport fire chief michael - beyerstedt says wilson was an - easy choice for the first - responder of the year - program.- fire chief michael beyerstedt - wilson, gulfport fire deparment- "what we do here in our department is we ask our senior- leadership who is deserving of- this award.

We had a staff- meeting and jon's name came up- and everybody agreed he would - be a great reccomendation for - the award so we were happy- to put him up for it.

He's a- hard worker but he's also quiet- and - modest.

That's something i- admire in him and i think most- of- his co-workers do too."

- - - the recipient recieves an - engraved plaque and a monetary- award.- in gulfport ashleigh