Firefighters Who Died in Back Bay Blaze Honored

The families of two fallen Boston firefighters have accepted posthumous medals of honor from Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

The tributes to Lt. Edward Walsh and firefighter Michael Kennedy were presented Tuesday during the state's 25th annual ceremony honoring bravery by firefighters in Massachusetts.

Walsh and Kennedy died while battling a 9-alarm blaze in the city's Back Bay neighborhood in March.

Other awards included medals of valor presented to Billerica firefighters Patrick Corbett and James Harries; Lt. Mark Raposa and firefighter Matthew Forand of the New Bedford fire department; and Lynn firefighter Ryan Newhall.

Also among the 22 receiving honors was Joseph Fleming, a Boston deputy fire chief, who was presented with an excellence in leadership award.

Patrick said the ceremony paid tribute to "amazing acts of courage and bravery" by firefighters.