PORT ANGELES — Andrew Moravec, one of two Coast Guard members who spearheaded the effort to display a piece of Ground Zero in Port Angeles, was honored for helping establish the 9/11 monument at Francis Street Park, which was dedicated in 2011.
Moravec, 24, received the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal Tuesday at Coast Guard Air Station/Sector Field Office Port Angeles, where the petty officer second class is an aviation mechanic.
“It feels great,” he said after the ceremony, which was attended by representatives from the city of Port Angeles, Port Angeles Police Department and Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
Sam Allen, who came up with the idea and is now stationed in Puerto Rico, also will get the award, the Coast Guard said.
Allen came up with the idea in 2009, and Moravec jumped on it. Moravec, 24, thanked everyone, such as Alan Barnard of Port Angeles, who helped establish the monument.
Cmdr. Mike Campbell commended Moravec for giving more than 200 hours of his time and overcoming the logistic obstacles of shipping an I-beam from the World Trade Center across the country.
The Port Angeles Fire Department Auxiliary sponsored the application to acquire it from the New York Port Authority.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
