Five brave men from Perry will receive a prestigious award today for their actions during a fire in 2020.

Perry fireman Brian Eitemen, Joel Eiteman, Andy Modlin, Bobby Harlan and Israel Baltazar will be receiving an award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) today in Des Moines. The fireman are receiving the award from their bravery in saving the life of a man in a burning home in Perry in the spring of 2020 who may not have survived without their actions in pulling him to safety.

VFW Commander-in-Chief Fritz Mihelcic will be presenting the awards to the firemen. Mihelcic says he looks forward to meeting the men.

“I can think of nothing greater, especially as military members, we know that you never leave anyone behind. At great personal risk and danger to themselves they completed that mission.”

Mihelcic explains the firefighters will be given a certificate of appreciation from the national headquarters as well as the Medal of Valor.