U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, left, presents the Carnegie Medal to Stephen Anthony Eberle, center, in a private ceremony Oct. 25, 2019, at the Essex, Conn., Town Hall also attended by Connecticut Sen. Norm Needleman, right. Eberle, of Ivoryton, Conn., and James R. Carroll, of Middletown, Conn., were awarded the medal for rescuing an unconscious driver from a burning sedan on July 16, 2017, after it crashed on a highway in Middletown.
In an Oct. 28, 2019, Facebook post about the presentation, Courtney lauded Eberle and noted that the Carnegie hero donated his grant money to Charity Water, a non-profit organization that works to bring sources of clean water to developing countries.
“Most of us will never be put into the situation that Stephen found himself in on that Middletown highway back in 2017 – we might not be called on to save anyone from a burning car, but we can still strive to follow Stephen’s example of selflessness and charity in other ways. Stephen is an outstanding member of our eastern Connecticut community, he’s deserving of this award, and I want to thank the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, State Senator Norm Needleman and the town of Essex for coming together to celebrate a true, local hero,” the post read.