Derek Washington honored as Firefighter of the Year at Beaufort County Patriot Day ceremony

Tim Ogden, fire chief for the Beaufort Port Royal Fire Department, presented Derek Washington with the Firefighter of the Year award during Beaufort County's Patriot Day observance. Ogden noted Washington "joined us as a volunteer firefighter on 09/01/2001, just 10 days before the nineeleven tragedy" and said the honoree "has served us great for 25 years now." Washington accepted the recognition as family and fellow first responders applauded.

The program highlighted Washington's long record of volunteer service in community events, including driving Santa Claus in the annual Christmas parade, and framed the award within the evening's larger memorial for the victims and first responders of 09/11/2001. Organizers thanked the Exchange Club and the local ROTC units for their participation; the ceremony continued with additional first-responder awards and remarks from elected officials.