Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell and Deputy Corporal Bill Zigan received First Responder Citations this week from the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH). Members of the Northeast Georgia Chapter 531 of MOPH were on hand at Tuesday’s Habersham County Commission meeting.
Terrell and Zigan were both shot when they responded to a domestic dispute on February 22. Zigan was critically injured. Sheriff Terrell tells Now Habersham that Corporal Zigan is still recovering, working his physical therapy program and is eager to return to work.
The Military Order of the Purple Heart was established in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of those who have received the decoration. It is comprised of more than 45,300 Purple Heart recipients and is the only service organization strictly for combat veterans.
Because civilians cannot receive military honors, the group established the First Responder Citation program. The First Responder Citations are designed to honor all Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters killed or wounded/injured in the line of duty.
According to the group, “Since we cannot award the Purple Heart Medal for their sacrifices, these distinctive plaques convey MOPH’s respect and appreciation for each First Responders’ sacrifice.”
“It’s a humbling honor to receive this award and I know it is for Bill (Zigan) too,” Sheriff Terrell says. “You know, we just get out there and do our jobs, we don’t do it for accolades and honors we do it because it is our job.”
