Press release from Indiana House Republican Caucus
Brandon Vincent was honored on the House floor by Jim Greeson, the current State Fire Marshall and former Chief of the Indianapolis Fire Department.
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(Indianapolis, Ind.) - Rep. Randy Frye (R-Greensburg) presented a resolution yesterday making eight year old Brandon Vincent, a boy suffering from cystic fibrosis, an honorary firefighter due to his undeniable strength and fighting spirit. Rep. Frye, a retired Indianapolis firefighter, served alongside Brandon’s father, grandfather and uncle.
“Brandon’s undeniable courage and strength to face this life threatening illness with endless optimism and humility truly embodies the virtues of a firefighter,” said Rep. Frye.
The undersized Brandon, a symptom of cystic fibrosis, stood on a desk at the front of the chamber so the entire House could see as he was awarded medals, coins, a plaque and a firefighter’s helmet that had been autographed by each of the representatives and Governor Daniels.
Brandon’s father, Greg Vincent, thanked Rep. Frye through choked tears for making “[his] little boy’s dream come true.” He quickly stepped away from the microphone and shared a tearful embrace with his son.
“Although people often referred to me as a hero when I was a firefighter, I never felt like a hero; I was just doing my job,” admitted Rep. Frye. “Brandon is the real hero.”
Cystic fibrosis is genetic disease that causes the body to produce and collect thick fluid in the lungs. The disease, though manageable, is incurable and tends to get progressively worse.