Vithaya (Wit) Iem serves as a Deputy Sheriff Sergeant with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department. A former ice hockey player at the University of Maryland, Iem enlisted in the Navy after graduation and went on to serve two deployments in Iraq in 2003 and 2005. When Sgt. Iem is not serving the community as a police officer, he volunteers as an EMT for the Germantown Volunteer Fire Station and plays ice hockey with the Capital Warriors, a team comprised of military veterans.
Lieutenant Michael Snyder has served with the Prince George's County Police Department for over 25 years, holding multiple positions during his tenure. Currently, Lt. Snyder serves in the Special Crimes Division of the department. In addition to his service as a police officer, Lt. Snyder routinely organizes county clean up programs and charitable runs in an effort to give back to the community.
Scott Schermerhorn is a Captain in the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Cpt. Schermerhorn has been a member of the Urban Search and Rescue Team since 2007 and has been deployed around the world to provide emergency response to large scale natural disasters. Along with his duties as a firefighter, Cpt. Schermerhorn also volunteers for the 9/11 Promise Organization, a non-profit established to support the children of fallen first responders.
"It's an honor to be able to recognize the incredible dedication and bravery of our first responders," said Hathaway. "These gentlemen and all other first responders consistently put others first, and I am proud to be in a position to give back and thank them for their sacrifice."
Each honoree received a signed letter from Hathaway, a plaque recognizing the award, a signed jersey, four signed pucks and four tickets to a future Capitals game.
The Hathaways founded Hath's Heroes in 2019 to give back to first responders. Garnet's great-grandfather, Garnet Mcelroy, was a firefighter in Winnipeg, and his experiences inspired the Hathaways to launch Hath's Heroes. Most recently, Hath's Heroes launched a first-of-its-kind collaboration with the nonprofit
Mindful Junkie
to provide mindfulness training to D.C. area first responders. Through the partnership, Hath's Heroes will fund multiple Mindful Junkie seminars led by Mindful Junkie founder Gina Rollo White. The trainings will be made available to all firefighters within DC Fire and EMS and will deliver Tactical Brain Training® (TBT), which empowers first responders to better handle work-based trauma. Hath's Heroes also provided thousands of meals to first responders and families affiliated with area nonprofits during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hathaways also provide tickets to select Capitals games to local first responders.
