Madeline “Amy” Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery (2022)

Paul Benjamin Galotti

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, in which at least 206 people with ties to Massachusetts perished. The first flights to be hijacked took off from Boston Logan International Airport. Madeline “Amy” Sweeney, a flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11, displayed extraordinary cool under extreme pressure during the hijacking. The Massachusetts 9/11 Fund Blog is profiling the Sweeney Award recipients for the past quarter century every week leading up to the naming of the 2026 Honoree(s) at the 25th Anniversary Commemoration on September 11th.

Easthampton man rescues wheelchair-bound neighbor from house fire

Paul Benjamin Galotti was watching a basketball game on May 15, 2022, when his wife, Eliza, told him there was smoke and noise coming from a neighbor’s home in Easthampton, MA.

Galotti quickly ran to the multifamily building to look for signs of anyone still inside. He was overcome with smoke and retreated outside after 45 seconds. After returning a second time, with only a T-shirt to cover his nose and mouth, Galotti heard the voice of David Martinez from the lower level.

“Your heart is just in your stomach. There was just so much smoke coming out of there, I didn’t even know at that point how someone could be yelling back to me in there,” Galotti told Boston 25 News.

Martinez, who uses a wheelchair, said the walk-out entrance was blocked by flames. “I tried once to get in and get him and thought, there’s nobody else. Am I gonna live the rest of my life knowing I could’ve done something?” Galotti told MassLive at the time.

Galotti looked to see if firefighters were on site but they had not arrived yet. He then went back into the smoke-filled room to search for Martinez, who was still in his wheelchair about 12 feet from the stairs. Galotti lifted Martinez from the wheelchair, hoisted him over his shoulder and exited the building. The Easthampton Fire Department said Galotti saved Martinez’s life due to the severity of the fire.

Galotti went beyond this act of courage to assist his displaced neighbors after the fire with their material needs, establishing an online fundraiser that generated more than $3,000 to pay for necessities they lost in the fire.

Upon finding out that he was going to be receiving the Madeline “Amy” Sweeney Award, Galotti was in disbelief. “Just knowing what so many 9/11 families have been through, what Amy Sweeney went through, you know, to be here for that it’s just a huge honor,” Galotti said.

Next week: Four Berlin neighbors respond to blast that destroyed family home