New Bedford -- City Hall was the venue for an Above and Beyond Award presentation to the New Bedford Department of Public Facilities.  Accepting the award on behalf of the department was Kenneth Blanchard who also received a Patriotic employer Award. Mr. Blanchard was nominated by SSG Ron Leger of the Massachusetts Army National Guard for outstanding support during many years of activations following 9/11 including tours of duty in Kosovo and Iraq .

Present for the ceremony was Mayor Scott Lang and more than twenty City of New Bedford department heads.  Also in attendance were numerous representatives of the local media.