WARS Honors Top Volunteers

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Patrick Watson and Bill Wood
Patrick Watson and Bill Wood

Western Albemarle Rescue Squad volunteers honored Patrick Watson as their member of the year, sharing the distinction with Will Barnhardt (who was not present),  at their annual awards banquet at King Family Vineyard Feb. 13. WARS president Bill Wood presented the awards.

Members reviewed a slide show about the past year and told some stories about getting stuck in snow. Lauren Chruma, for example, who runs calls on Thursday nights, unexpectedly gave birth to her second son in a squad van in September.

Brandon Hunter was named Rookie of the Year and the Chief’s Award went to Taylor Ashley, who handled the second most calls last year. Ashley also helps with the Rockfish Gap and Roseland rescue squads.

The Francis Henry Award was presented to Stacey Hosenfeld, who answered 140 calls last year, a figure which suggests she gave a staggering amount of time. She did it “with her whole heart and soul,” Wood declared admiringly.

The President’s Award was given to Reilly Moore, an Echols Scholar at U.Va. who also serves with the Charlottesville/Albemarle Rescue Squad.

Wood also offered his thanks to the volunteers’ families who “help the voluteers to show up and do their calls.”