Tallahassee VFW Post 3308 honors first responders, teacher of the year

Special to the Tallahassee Democrat
·2 min read

Thursday evening, March 2, 2023, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3308 held an awards’ dinner at their Post on West Tennessee Street to show appreciation for all that our First Responders in Tallahassee and Leon County do for our community. In addition, because they were not able to give out awards in 2021, the ceremony covered awards for 2021 and 2022. This year the Teacher of The Year was also awarded for both years.

VFW Post 3308 held its Annual First Responder Awards ceremony March 2, 2023, and honored Capt. Robert Clery of the Tallahassee Fire Department, shown with with Frank Roycraft, chairman for the Awards Ceremony.
VFW Post 3308 held its Annual First Responder Awards ceremony March 2, 2023, and honored Capt. Robert Clery of the Tallahassee Fire Department, shown with with Frank Roycraft, chairman for the Awards Ceremony.

Post Commander Rick Stanford oversaw the event which was well attended by the leaders of the local agencies, along with the award winners, their families and guests, and post members.

Each year the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3308 recognizes individuals in the categories of Fire Fighters, Law Enforcement and Emergency Medical Services. The Post further distinguishes Law Enforcement into Police and Sheriff’s Department.

VFW Post 3308 named a "Teacher of the Year for 2021 and 2022," Wes Singletary, left, a teacher at Chiles High School at a ceremony March 3, 2023.
VFW Post 3308 named a "Teacher of the Year for 2021 and 2022," Wes Singletary, left, a teacher at Chiles High School at a ceremony March 3, 2023.

VFW Post 3308 included in this year’s ceremony the Teacher of the Year. This year’s award went to Wes Singletary, Ph.D., a United States History teacher at Chiles High School. Dr. Singletary is a United State Air Force veteran and has coached for the American Legion baseball teams winning State Championships in 2015 thru 2019.

This year’s Chairperson of the VFW First Responder/Public Servant Awards Program, Frank Roycraft handed out the awards to the recipients. He expressed the gratitude of all the Post members and Auxiliary members for the sacrifices these professionals make to keep us safe and maintain our high quality of life.

Award presented

Leon County Sheriff’s Department

2021 Sergeant William Collins

2022 Lieutenant Chris Jacobs

Tallahassee Police Department

2021 Detective Mark Ray

2022 Officer Stephen Shields

Tallahassee Fire Department

2021 Staff Lieutenant Sarah Cooksey (posthumously)

2022 Captain Robert Clary

Leon County Emergency Medical Services

2021 Paramedic Jael Lopez

2022 TBA

Teacher of the Year

2021 and 2022 Wes Singletary, Chiles High School

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee VFW Post honors first responders, teacher of the year