Over the past month, in the aftermath of ice storms that hit western Kentucky, hundreds of thousands of residents were left without electricity and phone service, some for weeks. Volunteer Brown took days off from work to assist the local sheriff and the town's emergency responders in rescue operations.

Bremen, Kentucky, a town about 20 miles from CSXT's car shop in Madisonville, is home to Carman Larry Brown. As Bremen's volunteer fire chief, he leads an all-volunteer team of firefighters.

Over the past month, in the aftermath of ice storms that hit western Kentucky, hundreds of thousands of residents were left without electricity and phone service, some for weeks. Volunteer Brown took days off from work to assist the local sheriff and the town's emergency responders in rescue operations.

"Along with emergency rescue teams, Larry and his firefighters helped clear roads and went door-to-door to check on residents and get them needed provisions, medicines and heat sources or shelter," said Bill Hendrix, assistant general foreman at the Madisonville car shop.

Power has only gradually been restored to western Kentucky over the past several weeks. Local rescue teams like that in Bremen were assisted in aiding residents by the Army National Guard, which was deployed in full by Gov. Steve Beshear. In the aftermath of the storm and during cleanup of the damage, with power out to an estimated 700,000 residents, more than 4,600 Guardsmen were pressed into service -- the largest call-up in Kentucky history.

"The actions of people like Larry Brown says something about the character of these individuals," said Hendrix. "People who volunteer around the clock without pay or reimbursement for any expenses -- you can't put a price on that kind of commitment to your neighbors and community."