Captain Matthew Nelson and Firefighter Jack Wood of the Sacramento Fire Department’s Rescue 20 Crew and Sacramento Police Department Officer Daniel Mejorado received awards at a luncheon on April 4. The Sally and Hubert Mee Fund at the Foundation provides philanthropic support for these awards.
Captain Matthew Nelson and Firefighter Jack Wood of the Sacramento Fire Department’s Rescue 20 Crew were honored for their action during a house fire on Christmas last year. On Christmas evening, Captain Nelson and Firefighter Wood entered a residence obscured by smoke to save members of a family that were trapped inside. Together, they found and rescued a father and son who were trapped. Because of the courageous and collaborative efforts of Captain Nelson and Firefighter Wood, the father and son were able to celebrate Christmas the next morning.
Sacramento Police Officer Daniel Mejorado was honored for freeing the victim of a car accident from a burning vehicle. After arriving at a car accident scene to find the driver stuck in an engulfed SUV, Officer Mejorado equipped himself with a fire extinguisher and climbed into the backseat of the vehicle while it was on fire to extract the driver from the car. Thanks to Officer Mejorado’s quick thinking, the victim in the accident is still alive today.
Thursday’s event celebrated the 29th anniversary of the Mee Awards, honoring the meritorious acts of local first responders. Each honoree received a $3,000 grant from the Sally & Hubert Mee Fund at the Foundation. Annually, the selection committee accepts nominations, looking for individuals who bear the responsibility of being first responders in our community.
Heroism was always important to the Mee family. As a young man, Hubert Mee worked as a lifeguard. During World War II, he swam a wounded fellow seaman to safety during the sinking of the USS Quincy at Guadalcanal.
“His experience as a hero, and seeing other acts of heroism, gave my dad a lifelong appreciation for actions that save lives,” said his daughter, Nancy Mee. The awards program is made possible through the Sally and Hubert Mee Fund, which the Mees established in 1994 at the Foundation.
