Twenty-three year-old Anthony Simonetta of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company received the Firefighter of the Year award at the Maryland State Fireman’s Association Convention June 19 in recognition of outstanding citizenship and exemplary job achievement.
Simonetta also received the John E. “Sunny” Rose Jr. Memorial Training Award in recognition of an individual who dedicates the most hours to fire, EMS and rescue training during the year. “I was very surprised to get the award,” Simonetta said. “You put in all this time to do something you love every day and don’t expect to be recognized on that level.”
Simonetta began volunteering at OVFC as an 18-year-old, a few months after graduating Old Mill High School.
“When I graduated high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do,” he said.