Ben Franke receives a Citizen Action Meritorious Award

The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reported this morning Ben Franke, son of Wade and Karen Franke, was honored with a Citizen Action Meritorious Award on Monday, March 23 at the 2008 Fort Wayne Fire Department Service Awards, held at the Public Safety Academy of Northeast Indiana. He was one of 13 firefighters and citizens recognized at the event.

"Ben Franke was given a Citizen Action Meritorious Award for helping his neighbors, Dean and Eleanor Shideler, escape a fire in March 2008 at their Rolston Avenue home.

The Shidelers attended the ceremony to personally thank Franke.

When Franke learned of the blaze, the first thing that went though his head was “just get over there and help them,” he said after receiving the award.

“It’s great,” Franke said. “It feels good.'"