On September 14th, FFII Megan Clester was awarded with the Frederick Elks Lodge's Patriot Day Award at their annual Patriot Day Ceremony. Awards like this given to our hard working volunteer staff proves that appreciation is amongst the citizens we serve for their hard work and dedication to our department. FFII Clester was accompanied to this event by her family, DFC Moe and Sgt Thews.

FFII Megan Clester's write-up:

"I am writing to nominate Firefighter-II/EMT Megan Clester for recognition at the 2016 Patriot Day ceremony. FF/EMT Clester has served our department honorably for the past three (3) years. FF/EMT Clester has achieved many accomplishments in her time as a member with the department earning the Rookie of the Year award in 2014, Firefighter of the Year award in 2015 and completing training and certification to become the department’s first female volunteer capable of driving all of our apparatus. FF/EMT Clester has been known be the calm of the storm, constantly working with other members to help them out, she is truly dedicated often picking up projects in the department that others have left behind, to include fundraising activities and our departments Length of Service Awards program. FF/EMT Clester has taken training to include Firefighter-I&II, Emergency Medical Technician, Hazardous Materials Operations, Rescue Technician, Pump Operator Training, Emergency Vehicle Operator Training and Fire Department Safety Officer training, these classes total in over 500 hours of training. FF/EMT Clester has also taken interest in serving as the department’s assistant to our active Chaplain, helping to assure the welfare and mental well-being of our members and those we respond too. FF/EMT Clester has accomplished all of these many hours of training and awards amongst our department, while also becoming a mother to her first child and completing Baltimore County Fire Department’s Training Academy to begin employment with their career department. FF/EMT Clester’s caring and positive attitude, absolute outstanding devotion and amazing amount of accomplishments in a very short time, I feel make her a great candidate for recognition at the 2016 Patriot Day ceremony. Please consider my nomination for recognition and Thanks for all your time spent to recognize deserving individuals like FF/EMT Clester."