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March 19, 2010
Jeff Clemmensen recognized as Fjardaál's "Everyday Hero"
An American couple whom Jeff Clemmensen, an Alcoa Fjardaál employee, assisted when they had car trouble on Oddsskard mountain road in Iceland last summer, have founded an award for Fjardaál‘s „Everyday Hero.“ Sómi, the employees‘ association, will present the award annually to an employee who has shown particular helpfulness to a stranger. Jeff was presented with the first award at the Fjardaál Annual Ball held earlier this month.
Mary Ellen Gibson and Stephan Lamb were on holiday in July 2009. Unfortunately for them, they had filled the diesel rental car with regular petrol. The car kept breaking down, but they did not know why. The final breakdown was at almost the top of a mountain midway between the towns of Eskifjordur and Neskaupstadur, in a place called Oddsskard. Road conditions were not like the couple was used to, with no pull-off and no protection from driving off, and of course they were shaken.
A young woman with two young children offered Mary Ellen a ride, while Stephan remained with the car. The woman took the American woman to her grandfather who lives in Neskaupstadur. “I was then alone in a foreign country where I didn't speak the language without my husband who had the money and documents,” Mary Ellen says, admitting that she was stressed. “Grandfather put me in the car, got a rope, and off we went to find Stephan.“
Back up the mountain they passed Stephan who was being towed by Jeff Clemmensen. Jeff had passed by and seen Stephan and his stalled car. Without hesitation, he had turned around and pulled up in front of Stephan and told him that he would get him to a automotive repair person and reassuring him that all would be good.
After the Mary Ellen and Stephan had returned to the US, they sent a letter to Alcoa Fjardaál’s director, Tómas Már Sigurdsson, to tell him about the event. They wrote: “It was extremely kind of Mr. Clemmensen to take the time and effort to assist us. We are forever grateful to him. As a small token of our appreciation, we'd like to send your company $500.00 (US) each year which should be used to reward an employee who has shown a special kindness to someone.“
Jeff was surprised to hear about the award. „This was no heroic act,“ he says. „I was going home from work and saw this small car on the roadside. It was no effort to tow the car to Neskaupstadur, get the car to a garage, and the people for some sightseeing and then to a hotel. This took me about four hours, and my wife was getting worried, but it is always good to be able to help other people. It never occurred to me to get paid for this small errand.“
The „Everyday Hero“ award will be presented each year at the Sómi Annual Ball, for some outstanding act of kindness. Mary Ellen Gibson and Stephan Lamb will contribute the 500 dollars each year. Fjardaál‘s employees are thankful to the American couple for their contribution to the community in East Iceland.
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