Detective Josh Creel, left, accepts the “Police Officer of the Year” award from Chief J.R. Reed during the Optimist Club lunch on Monday.

The East Ridge Optimist Club hosted members of the city’s fire and police department’s, Monday, on the 16th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks on our country in New York and Washington D.C.

This is the fifth year that the club has hosted an event in appreciation of our city’s first responders and to reflect on the nearly 3,000 lives lost during the attack. It is also the occasion in which our fire department and police department announces its officers of the year.

This year, Kory Custer was named “Firefighter of the Year” and Det. Josh Creel was distinguished as the “Police Officer of the Year.”

Fire Chief Mike Williams characterized Custer, an 11-year veteran of the department with the rank of Senior Engineer, as a “standout” and a “go-getter.”

Chief Williams said that Custer is a mentor to the younger generation of firefighters and can sometimes be humorous. However, when it’s time to get serious, Williams said, Custer is the man to make good judgement decisions.

“I saw him grow up,” Williams said. “He’s really full of himself,” Williams said in a joking manner. “However, I’d trust him with my life and I can’t think of anyone who deserves this award more.”

Custer attempted to deflect being singled out for an award, saying that “I’m not doing anything any different than my entire crew does.”

Custer singled out veteran firefighters Eric Bowen, Randy Albright and Mike Flynn Jr. for “pushing” him to become a better firefighter. He also mentioned his brother, Kenny Custer, who has won the same award twice in his career with the East Ridge Fire Department.

Sr. Engineer Kory Custer, left, received the “Firefighter of the Year” award from Fire Chief Mike Williams Monday during the Optimist Club lunch.

Police Chief J.R. Reed was somber and reflective in his comments during the presentation. He looked back on Sept. 11, 2001 and the challenges faced in its aftermath, and Sept. 11, 2017 and the challenges facing much of the country in the wake of hurricane’s Harvey and Irma.

“Detetctive Creel took his test (to become a police officer) on 9-11,” Chief Reed said. “I think about what he’s done over the last 16 years. I think about how taking his test on 9-11 affected him.”

Chief Reed said that Creel brings integrity and ethics to his job as a police officer day-in and day-out. “Im honored today to present this award to Josh Creel.”

Det. Creel, who was previously recognized with the award in 2011 and 2012 said this year’s award was “completely unexpected.”

He recalls Sept. 11, 2001 vividly.

Creel said that he was a jailer at the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Department and was taking a preliminary test to become a police officer in East Ridge on that Tuesday.

He said that Sue Cross, a secretary to the police chief, was proctoring the test. She came into the room and announced that something was going on … a plane had hit a building in New York. Creel said she came back in nine minutes later and said a second plane had crashed into the towers and the testing came to a complete stop.

“That was kind of surreal, knowing you were throwing your hat into the ring (becoming a police officer),” he said. “It became very hard to concentrate after that, realizing that your country was under attack.”

Prior to the awards being presented, Mary Lambert, an East Ridge resident and retired Colonel in the military, spoke to those gathered in the community center.  Col. Lambert said she was in her office on Pennsylvania Avenue, assigned as a liaison with the Department of Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense on that fateful day 16 years in the past.

“I glanced at the television monitor in the office and saw the second plane flying into the towers,” she said. “In the periphery of my left eye, I saw smoke billowing from the Pentagon. This bank of black, dense smoke took over the view out my window.”

She called 9-11 “a gut-wrenching experience.” She said that part of her duties in Washington was to help coordinate a response to the attack in New York. Initially, she said, the effort was to respond to get medical help to victims. Officials had to recall people deployed to New York after six hours as it became apparent that the effort would not be one of rescue, but one of recovering the bodies of victims.

“(The attack) is an ugly, painful reminder of the hatred and evil that’s in the hearts of some,” she said.

Lambert, whose brother-in-law and nephew were career firefighters, said that she will always remember the courage of the firefighters and police officers who rushed into the Twin Towers to help the victims of the attack.

Col. Mary Lambert was the Optimist Club’s guest speaker during an Optimist Club lunch honoring first responders on the 16th anniversary of 9-11.