New Honor Introduced to Commemorate Fallen First Responders
In a poignant ceremony, President Donald Trump has introduced the “Medal of Sacrifice,” a new award aimed at honoring first responders who have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty. The first recipients of this accolade are three Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office motorcycle deputies who perished in a devastating crash last year.
Relatives of Deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz, Cpl. Luis Paez, and Deputy Ralph “Butch” Waller gathered in the Oval Office on Monday as President Trump, alongside his son Eric Trump and U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, unveiled the new award. The deputies were involved in a fatal incident on November 21, when an SUV veered off Southern Boulevard, striking them as they awaited assistance due to a mechanical issue with one of their motorcycles.
Waller and Paez succumbed to their injuries immediately, while Diaz was hospitalized in critical condition and died four days later, on November 25. The three deputies were known for their participation in Trump’s presidential motorcades, which inspired the creation of the Medal of Sacrifice. Eric Trump explained, “One simple question was asked. Why is there no medal, Medal of Valor, Medal of Sacrifice, that commemorates law enforcement officers, first responders, who have fallen in the line of duty? … We said we’re going to take care of this problem.”
The introduction of the Medal of Sacrifice was also inspired by the deputies’ memorial services held in December, which were attended by Trump, his family, and Rep. Mast. Cameron Paez, son of the late Cpl. Luis Paez, expressed his thoughts, saying, “I viewed my dad as Superman, someone my whole life you look up to. An amazing guy. It’s horrible that this happened to all three families. But I’m glad that something was done about it and we got represented and everyone in the future will be.”
The medal, designed by the Arnault family of LVMH and Tiffany & Co., incorporates the word “sacrifice” alongside three oak leaves symbolizing “strength, resilience, and honoring the families of the fallen.” A fourth medal was also produced for Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw for potential future use. President Trump remarked, “I hope it never has to be given out, frankly.” The Medal of Sacrifice Act, introduced by Mast, will establish a commission to oversee the award’s distribution to deserving first responders.
For more information about the deputies’ memorial services, visit this link. The details of the crash can be found here.
