At the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution (VASSAR) annual conference in Richmond on February 11, 2017, four members of the Prince William County Fire and Rescue Department were recognized with VASSAR Public Safety Awards.
Technician II Shawn Bliss received the VASSAR Heroism Award.
On June 6, 2015 Technician Bliss, while off duty, entered the rain swollen Shenandoah River in order to assess occupants of an overturned canoe for injuries. One of the occupants was a young boy who wanted to cross back to the other side with Shawn Bliss. Shawn was hanging onto the shoulder strap of the boy's life jacket while walking behind him. The boy lost his footing and slipped into the water. Both were swept into the river and drawn into the rapids.
Shawn maintained his hold and both of them made it through the rapids safely. The boy's mother stated "there was a minute that as a mother, I thought I would not go home with my son; that was the worst feeling of my life". As a result of his actions that day, Technician Bliss was awarded the Prince William County Valor Award.
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