Employees of the Williamsport central business office of the Bell Telephone Company who served during the flood emergency of March 17-18, 1936, were cited with a Vail Medal in recognition of their heroism and devotion to duty during that occasion.

Announcement of the award, which is the company’s highest badge of honor for conspicuous public service in the face of personal hazards and dangers was made today.

No date for bestowing the medal or presenting the commendation that accompanies it has been set.

The award will represent the Bell System’s recognition of 120 Williamsport employees who, a year ago, performed while the Susquehanna River flowed at its greatest length in recorded history.

They were at that time under the supervision of Earl R. Boyer, wire chief and Howard Brian, assistant district traffic supervisor, and Frederick Huston, commercial manager.

The medal will be bronze and will be mounted on a plaque that is to be displayed in the commercial office. The accompanying citation is also supposed to be in bronze and will likewise be displayed.

The citation reads in part, “The entire telephone forces performed conspicuously during the emergency and their loyalty and devotion to duty demonstrate through outstanding acts in the face of tremendous difficulty and great personal hazards and hardships reflected the best traditions of the Bell system.”

The Vail Medal is awarded to those telephone employees, who as individuals or groups, demonstrate through outstanding acts, the ideals of public service fostered by the late Theodore R. Vail, former president of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company.