Madeline “Amy” Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery (2025)

Jesse Winocour and Jason Papa

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.

Everett DPW workers rush into triple-decker fire to save residents

Shortly before 8 a.m. on July 3, 2024, Everett Department of Public Works employees Jesse Winocour and Jason Papa were driving down Hancock Street when Winocour saw smoke pouring out of a triple-decker.

“I told him 'Stop the truck, stop the truck!'” Winocour said. “We both ran out, ran to the building, kicked in the doors, got everyone out."

"I live on the first floor, and I woke up this morning with somebody banging loudly on my door," Sueli Decarney said.

It was Winocour and Papa, going floor-to-floor to knock on doors and alert residents to evacuate – many of whom were still sleeping. But when the DPW workers learned there was still a small girl stranded on the third floor, they re-entered the rapidly intensifying inferno to try to rescue her as well.

“We couldn’t make it all the way in. Too much smoke, too much fire. We tried,” Winocour said.

“Tried to go up further to the point that I couldn’t breathe. My eyes were burning,” added Papa.

Captain Jay Lewis of the Everett Fire Department was the first on the scene of what became a multi-alarm fire. Lewis was climbing the stairs as Winocour and Papa were heading down. They alerted the captain to the 3-year-old still trapped on the third floor.

Lewis found the girl and got on his hands and knees to carry her to the stairway and out of the building. He handed the child to other firefighters before collapsing.The child’s body was limp and lifeless, but firefighters were able to revive her before rushing her to the hospital, where she recovered and was later released. Lewis also suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

"I'm a little shook up, seeing the little girl come out like that in his arms just hanging there,” Papa said. “I've got six kids of my own. I've got three boys, three girls. She was about the age of one of my daughters. But at the end of the day, she's OK."

Officials said approximately 20 residents were displaced by the fire but got out safely thanks to the courageous actions of Winocour and Papa. They, in turn, deflected credit to Capt. Lewis. “We tried to go in, but there was too much smoke, too much fire. I couldn’t breathe.” Winocour said. “But that firefighter, he went up there and saved the little girl. He’s a hero.”

Next week: Announcement of the 2026 Madeline “Amy” Sweeney Award honorees.