Webster - An online petition is gaining momentum to award a national honor for the four West Webster firefighters injured or killed during an ambush on Christmas Eve.
More than seven-thousand people have signed the White House petition requesting Medals of Freedom be awarded to Lt. Mike Chiapperini, Tomasz Kaczowka, Joe Hofstetter and Ted Scardino.
Chiapperini and Kaczowka were killed when a gunman opened fire as they rushed to put out a fire on Lake Rd. in Webster last week.
Hofstetter and Scardino continue to recover from their wounds. Both remain hospitalized.
The Medal Of Freedom is the highest honor given to a civilian by the President.
People in Webster said they support the effort. Most told 13WHAM News that the firefighters deserve this honor. Ann Insalaco told 13WHAM News, "I think they deserve it, it is the least we can do."
Don Schimerhorn added, "I mean, if you give your life for somebody else, it should be rewarded."
The West Webster Fire Department also supports the petition drive. Fire Department Public Information Officer Al Sienkiewicz said, ""We fully support it. We think it's fitting, given the extraordinary events."
The petition needs 25,000 signatures by January 27th to be considered by the Obama administration.
A link to the petition can be found
here.
