Odenton Firefighter Receives National Spirit of Service Award

ODENTON, MD — Odenton Volunteer Fire Company firefighter Joe McPhail received the Spirit of Service Award from the American Legion in August at their 101st National Convention in Indianapolis. When McPhail joined the OVFC, he was an instructor at the Naval Academy who had been inspired to serve after seeing the heroic actions of first responders on Sept. 11 when he was just a third grader.

"The event opened my eyes to what fire service really is. A lot of those guys weren't even on shift. They were coming in to help those in need. That's kind of what I wanted to do. I don't do it for recognition, for the reward. I do it to help those in need. I like helping people, and this is a great way to do it. You see some people's darkest days, and you're there, whether it’s noon or two o'clock in the morning, with barely any sleep. You're answering the call," he said.

McPhail has been on aircraft carriers focusing on hydraulic engineering. He took an assortment of classes, excelling in them, and leads teams efficiently, officials with the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company said. McPhail described being in the military as a "big brotherhood/sisterhood." But the camaraderie in the fire service "is a little bigger."

"If one of my buddies has a predicament where he can't get himself out, I have no problem going in to a burning building to save that person. Same thing, if I were in a predicament or I need extra resources, or I was low on air, or I was in a serious situation where I could potentially die, I know that there's a bunch of guys going to come get me, and they have no problem doing it. It's kind of a one for all, and all for one mentality. Everyone has each other's backs," he said.