LISBON — Police Chief David Brooks and Fire Chief Sean Galipeau were among those who honored two third-graders at Lisbon Community School on Monday for helping others.

Canaan Cameron and Charles Hawkins, both 10, were each given a Community Hero Award during an assembly of 600 students in pre-kindergarten to grade five. They were honored for “making the right call,” according to the plaque each received.

School Resource Officer Jeff Picard shared why Lisbon emergency medical technicians and police officers recommended the boys for the award.

On a January afternoon, Canaan Cameron was with his mother as she drove on School Street. He noticed a little girl walking alone and was concerned.

His mother stopped.

“He stepped out of the car and decided to accompany the young girl on her unknown journey while his mother followed behind,” Picard told the audience. “The two walked together for nearly a mile.”

Police were called. The young girl, who left home without her parents’ knowledge, was safely returned home, Picard said.

The girl was planning to walk to Lewiston. It would have been dark and the girl would have been on Route 196, Picard said.

“I’m glad we stopped,” Canaan’s mother, Deanna, said. “I’m proud that he noticed and didn’t say, ‘It’s somebody else’s problem.’”

“We teach him not to turn away when something’s wrong,” the boy’s father, Chris Cameron, said. “I’m glad he was paying attention.”

Charles Hawkins was honored for helping his mother.

Last fall, Muriel Hawkins was suffering an allergic reaction so severe that her throat swelled. She was taking an antibiotic that she had used before, but this time she had an allergic reaction.

“I was on the phone with 911 but my throat started closing up,” she said. She couldn’t continue to talk. “He took over,” she said of Charles. “He’s an amazing kid. He saved my life.”

Charles went above and beyond of what’s expected of a third-grader by remaining on the line with the dispatcher and facilitating meeting the ambulance at the bottom of the driveway, Picard said.

“As a result of his quick thinking that day, Charles’ mom got the care she desperately needed,” Picard said. “I learned from the paramedic on call that not only did Charles do all the things he was supposed to, he stayed by her side making sure the ambulance and first responders did what they needed to do.” 

His mother cried as he walked to the front to get his award. Students cheered. Charles smiled.

As the school resource officer, Picard teaches pupils about 911, “stranger danger,” substance abuse, road signs, to be aware of what’s around them, to pay attention and report something when it doesn’t feel right.

Often students ask a lot of “what if” questions during lessons. Picard said he often can’t provide all of the answers because there are many variables.

But Canaan and Charles applied safety lessons “to the real world,” Picard said. “They recognized emergencies and acted accordingly, appropriately, the way they should have acted.”

Their consideration for others was critical to those they helped, he said.

School Principal Robert Kahler said he was proud of the students.

“One of the things about learning is not knowing all the answers but knowing what questions to ask,” he said. “You did a great job.”

Canaan Cameron and Charles Hawkins applied safety lessons “to the real world. They recognized emergencies and acted accordingly, appropriately, the way they should have acted.” — Jeff Picard, Lisbon Community School resource officer