LAWTON – Assistant Lawton Fire Marshal Anthony Garibay received a certificate of appreciation during the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Oklahoma Honors Banquet Feb. 19 in Norman, the City of Lawton announced.
The certificate recognizes alertness, personal courage and efficient guardianship of life and property.
“We are delighted that Assistant Fire Marshal Anthony Garibay was honored in this way,” Lawton Fire Chief Jared Williams said in the news release. “He has dedicated many years of his professional career to public service, so the recognition of appreciation is well deserved.”
Garibay has been with the city of Lawton for 10 years, serving in the emergency communications department for three years and the Lawton Fire Department for seven years. He is an advanced emergency medical technician, a Rescue Technician and, as required for his duties as assistant fire marshal, a Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training-certified peace officer.
Earlier this year, Garibay was recognized as the only known individual within the city to complete all three first responder training academies: dispatch, fire and police, according to the press release. Garibay is a member of the Fire Marshals Association of Oklahoma and the International Association of Arson Investigators.
In his time with the Lawton Fire Department, Garibay has volunteered to manage fundraiser programs for the IAFF Local 1882, such as the Fill the Boot program for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Christmas for Kids program, which provides Christmas gifts to families in need. Garibay has also served on the Lawton Fire Department Honor Guard since 2019.
“This recognition from the VFW means so much to me,” Garibay said in the news release. “I have multiple family members that have served our country in various branches of the armed forces, so I am honored to have received this certificate of appreciation from the VFW recognizing my achievements as a public servant.”