Fire Chief Richard Price of the San Ramon Valley (Calif.) Fire Protection District awarded Capt. Chesley Sullenberger with the district's Medal of Valor for his actions on the Hudson River. Sullenberger was captain of U.S. Airways Flight 1549, landed the plane in the river Jan. 15 after bird strikes knocked out its engines. All 155 passengers and crew were rescued

"The Medal of Valor is given to individuals who have, under especially hazardous conditions, courageously risked their own lives in an attempt to save others," said Price. "Capt. Sullenberger exemplifies these characteristics and the Fire District is proud to honor him this way."

The Medal of Valor is the highest of the district's awards. Sullenberger is only the third recipient of the medal, along with two firefighters in 1995 who saved a six-year-old boy from a burning building.