Hero Scout Honored For Life-Saving Action

A Wall Township Boy Scout credited with saving his friend’s life during a house fire last year received one of scouting’s highest honors at Wednesday’s Township Committee meeting.

Patrick Daley, a member of Troop 82, received the Boy Scouts of America Honor Medal for Lifesaving and Meritorious Action during a Court of Honor ceremony held during the committee’s meeting. Deputy Mayor Clinton Hoffman also read  a proclamation honoring the Wall High School student.

The Honor Medal is awarded to scouts who show a “unusual heroism and skill’’ by saving someone’s life while at “considerable risk’’ to himself. The medal was first awarded in 1923. Since then, there have been only 2,354 awarded, and only 52 last year, according to the Boy Scouts of America.

Daley on April 18, 2012, saved his friend, Brock Glab, during a house fire that gutted a West Belmar home. And it was Glab who pinned the award on Daley’s uniform.

“I think the word ‘hero’ is used loosely,’’ Committeeman George Newberry said later in the meeting. “Not tonight. The actions of that young man truly saved a life that day. It could have been a true tragedy. This is a young man we should be real proud to have as a Wall resident.’’

* * * * *

For a full account of the fire and of Daley’s actions on April 18, 2012, please see:

Anatomy Of A Tragedy: Central Avenue Fire

* * * * * 

Glab, also Wall High School student, was stuck in a room of his house, his hands badly burned as flames burned closer to him. Daley, responded to his friends’ screams, opened the door as fire consumed the room.

The two made it outside alive. The house was destroyed.

The presentation of the Honor Medal was made by Kurt Kalafsky, President of Monmouth Council, and Bray Barnes, a past president of Monmouth Council, and current member of the Boy Scouts of America National Court of Honor Committee.

“For demonstrating unusual heroism, skill, resourcefulness, in saving the life of Brock Glab, at the risk to himself, it is with great pride that on behalf of the Boy Scouts of America, National Court of Honor, the Monmouth Council Boy Scouts of America proudly awards the Honor Medal to Life Scout Patrick J. Daley,’’ Barnes said during the ceremony.

Daley is “a testament to our Boy Scouts, a testament to the youth here in Wall,’’ Mayor Todd Luttman said. “He did a fantastic job.’’

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stay in touch. Stay informed. Like Wall Patch on Facebook and get updates throughout the day right to your newsfeed. Or follow us on Twitter @WallPatch. Don’t miss a thing.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------