Lamar Institute of Technology hosts 21st annual ‘Salute to the Real American Heroes’

Held annually around Sept. 11, the foundation's hosted the event since 2001, though it didn't happen the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program began with the Presentation of Colors by Beaumont Fire and Rescue under the command of Deputy Chief Christiaan Bordelon, accompanied by bagpiper Brian Shajari of the United States Coast Guard.

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A spray of flowers was also placed on the stage in memory of those lost in the line of duty. Guests were treated to a catered meal by Cajun Ventures and the Hard Bean.

The evening's presentations began with a speech from Lamar Institute of Technology's new President, Sid Valentine, who started his tenure last month.

"For the students in the back, I always used to enjoy, we did graduations for all of our students in sectors -- police, (emergency medical services), fire, all that, and I always used to ask them, I said 'How does it feel knowing that the profession you chose, you're going to run into harm's way but you're going to save someone's life today?'" he said. "And I loved getting the looks on those faces. I said, 'More often than not, you're going to be running in, leaving your families, to go help my family, to help someone else's family. It's a big burden and don't think that's lost on anyone in this room, on anyone in this community."

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Valentine discussed LIT's reduction in tuition by almost 50%, which, along with the annual event's fundraising, will allow students to "take more classes and graduate earlier."

He said it'll result in "well-trained future first responders" in the community.

Over the course of the event's 21-year history, Valentine said more than $847,000 has been raised and more than 150 students have received scholarships.

Before scholarships were presented, Beaumont Police Chief Jimmy Singletary remembered late Beaumont Police Officer Sheena Yarbrough-Powell, who was killed in a head-on collision in August 2020.

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"Sheena was a police officer and a lot more than that," Singletary said. "Sheena's family, and her husband Tyler (Powell's) family, are a model of how you should act, how you should endure such a horrible tragedy. I love those families, the Beaumont Police Department loves those families."

Singletary said he's been amazed by the strength the Yarbrough and Powell families showed over the past two years, adding that they would be members of the Beaumont Police Department family and the first responder family for the rest of their lives.

The two families were recognized with the C.A. "Pete" Shelton Award, named after the longtime Beaumont fire chief.

Vidor Police Chief and Lamar Institute of Technology Foundation board member Rod Carroll said that in the next year, there will be a scholarship in Yarbrough-Powell's name, which supports a cadet going through the police academy.

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Yarbrough-Powell's husband Tyler accepted the award.

"I didn't know I was coming up here," he said. "(Motioning to the Yarbrough and Powell families), they're all a bit more scared of lights than I am, but they're over there. They are also very thankful to LIT. I didn't know about the scholarship either. Sheena, funny enough, one of the things she loved and one of the things she believed in was going to school and doing that without debt."

Powell said Yarbrough-Powell attended Lamar University on a full-ride scholarship. She graduated in 2018.

Next, the Lamar institute foundation recognized the Sabine-Neches Chiefs Association, which began as a small group of municipal fire and industry leaders prior to the 1947 Texas City industrial accident.

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The association's first meeting only had four fire departments and five local industries. Today, approximately 120 member organizations including emergency responders, fire, police, industry, emergency management, public works, emergency medical services, hospitals, schools, businesses, volunteer groups, counties and more make up the nation's oldest organized mutual aid organization.

Since 2001, the chiefs association has dedicated proceeds from its annual golf tournament to scholarships for LIT students within public service and safety programs. The organization has donated more than $120,000.

Representatives for the Sabine-Neches Chiefs Association were presented with challenge coins.

The Port Arthur Fire Department's longest continuously serving member, Battalion Chief Patrick Murphy, was also recognized Thursday night. This year marks his 50th year of service. 

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"I'd like to thank my greatest support group and that's my family," Murphy said. "The second is the fire department."

The Lamar Institute of Technology Foundation awarded 27 scholarships, with seven students accepting their certificates during Thursday's event.

Recognized students came from a variety of public service fields including emergency management and homeland security, criminal justice, emergency medical services, fire protection technology, the police academy, among others.

The evening's keynote speaker was local businessman and president of The 100 Club of Southeast Texas, Joe Penland, Sr. 

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"When you're 72 years old, there's things that you remember -- all of us have a day in our life, maybe multiple days in your life, that you remember, a special day or day that was a tragic day, but you remember and you'll never get that out of your mind," Penland said. "Something like 9/11...That's what first responders was all about and it really called a lot of attention to first responders that needed to be called many, many times before."

Penland said it seems as if it takes a national tragedy such as 9/11 for people to realize the first responders who stand by them every day.

"You don't ever recognize that they're there," he said. "And that's the reason why you lay down to sleep every night and you don't have to worry because you got these men and women to take care of you 24/7, 365 days a year, Christmas, it doesn't matter -- every day. They're there. They don't say anything except they're happy to have that job and serve each other."

Penland said it's important to recognize first responders and their service every day, not just on 9/11.

The program ended with a rendition of "God Bless America" by Lamar Institute of Technology instructor of allied health and sciences Bryan Barron.

olivia.malick@hearst.com

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