State Representative Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) sponsored a House Resolution to honor St. Charles Fire Department Captain Darin Peterson.
HR 401 was agreed upon in the House of Representatives, and commends Captain Darin Peterson for his heroic and lifesaving actions on July 4, 2018.
Captain Peterson and his family were attending a fireworks display in Sheridan when lightning struck a nearby tree injuring two young residents standing underneath: an 18-year-old male and a 4-year-old girl. Peterson ran to the scene to help and immediately began CPR on the young man who was in cardiac arrest. After being joined by a paramedic, Peterson moved to help the young girl was also hurt by the lightening. Captain Peterson’s actions in the first crucial minutes before more help could arrive made all the difference in saving the lives of two young people.
Representative Ugaste was able to meet with Captain Peterson and members of the St. Charles Fire Department in person at the Twenty-Sixth Annual Illinois Fallen Firefighter Memorial and Medal of Honor Awards Ceremony in Springfield. At the ceremony, Captain Peterson received the Medal of Valor, an award given by the State of Illinois to a firefighter for an act of heroism or bravery.