OLYMPIA — State Rep. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, gave the nomination speech for a local woman to win the state’s Medal of Valor on Wednesday, Jan. 24.
Alana Schutt received the medal during a special joint session of the House and Senate, where Lovick told the story of how Schutt looked out the window of her home in Lynnwood to see three men in trouble, their paddleboat sinking on Martha Lake.
“She jumped into action before emergency services arrived,” said Lovick, “launching her family’s paddleboat and making her way to the fishermen. One man who couldn’t swim was on top of their boat. Two others were in the water. Schutt pulled two of the three aboard her paddleboat and encouraged the third man to swim with her as they went to the shore.”
Her quick action, Lovick said, saved the lives of the three men.
“Valor isn’t about being strong or fast,” Lovick said. “It’s about putting others before self, and acting without hesitation, and that’s exactly what Alana Schutt did.”
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