P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
www.nps.gov/yose/news

209 372-0529 phone
209 372-0371 fax

February 17, 2005
For Immediate Release

Yosemite National Park Employee Honored with Awards for Outstanding Service and Valor

Werner Braun, a dedicated volunteer for Yosemite National Park Search and Rescue since 1970, has been awarded the President’s Call to Service Award as well as the Department of the Interior’s Conservation Service Award in recognition of his selfless dedication to rescuing generations of climbers and hikers. Recipients of this high honor from the Department of the Interior must “have demonstrated extremely significant long-term contributions to departmental programs and missions.” This statement certainly describes Braun’s exceptional service.

“Werner Braun has provided invaluable service to Yosemite National Park. We appreciate his tremendous skills and efforts,” stated Michael J. Tollefson, Superintendent, Yosemite National Park.

Mr. Braun has been on an estimated 1500 rescues during his career; all as a volunteer. He has arguably saved more lives than any other rescue technician worldwide. Braun has dedicated his life to rescuing climbers and hikers in Yosemite and helping to develop the very techniques and in-depth area knowledge that have proven time and again to be invaluable.

“Werner is one of the most talented and valuable assets we have in the Yosemite SAR program. His commitment, dedication, and selfless contributions cannot be accurately measured and unquestionably, his actions over the past three decades have saved countless lives," said Cameron Sholly, Deputy Chief Ranger, Yosemite National Park.

In addition to countless rescues, Mr. Braun has also been instrumental in the routine maintenance of the rescue cache, rescue equipment, electronic equipment, and the training of new and veteran rescue technicians. He engineered and built Yosemite’s “SAR bus” which is filled with electronic equipment including phones, radios, copy machines, and facsimile machines. The bus is currently used as a mobile command center on large incidents.

Werner has become an icon among members of the Yosemite National Park rescue team. He possesses the depth of experience to make him an expert in the field. To this day, Werner still recreationally climbs routes that average climbers struggle with, and is an active participant in almost every rescue .

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