The Alabama First Responders Association will hold its first annual awards dinner to honor the state’s top first responders and agencies.

The association’s March 10, 2022, dinner will be held at Birmingham’s historic Fennec entertainment venue and will host former White House adviser Sebastian Gorka as its featured speaker. Hit country music artist Dallas Walker will also be featured during and after the event.

Association executive director Angela McClure outlined the first-of-its-kind event to honor those who place themselves in harm’s way to protect Alabamians.

“This will be the first event of its kind in Alabama. It’s time that we recognize and honor all of our First Responders who put their lives on the line every day,” proclaimed McClure. “We can expect a wonderful meal, great entertainment, and a firebrand, inspiring presentation from Sebastian Gorka. This is a celebration for our first responders.”

The award honors will feature the First Responder of the year, Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, Firefighter of the Year, Paramedic of the Year, Emergency Room Nurse or Doctor of the Year, as well as outstanding achievement awards and the First Responder Lifetime achievement award. Awards will also be given to outstanding agencies and emergency rooms of the year.

Nominations for the honors will remain open until March 2 and may be submitted on the Alabama First Responders website.

Representatives from the Advanced Security Training Institute (ASTI) will also be on hand for the event. The non-profit organization was founded to provide specialized training in urban terror zones. Numerous police, fire and medical organizations have undergone ASTI training in Israel’s special zones.

Dinner attendees will be treated to a full course meal featuring a salad with roasted duck or braised short ribs, alongside sides and desserts. Tickets may be purchased at the association’s website or through Eventbrite.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL