Two young men were recognized recently for taking the initiative when they came across an elderly neighbor in need.

Tyler Riley and Nick Warriner, seventh graders at Thomas Hunter Middle School, earned the thanks of the Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad and Mathews County Sheriff’s Office for their quick thinking on Feb. 26.

It was a cold and windy evening when, driving along Henry Street on Gwynn’s Island in a golf cart, they heard cries of help from an elderly lady who had fallen near her front door and was badly injured.

Immediately, the boys sprang into action, calling 911 and getting a blanket and pillow for the woman to make sure she was warm and comfortable while they awaited the ambulance. The boys stayed with the woman until the EMTs arrived.

Riley, 13, and Warriner, 12, were the guests of honor at the rescue squad’s March 22 meeting. The boys and their parents were given a VIP tour of the squad’s facilities, including the ambulance bays, wher...