Lesley Pappalardo was recognized by the Herndon Town Council for saving Allen Chambers and his two dogs from a fire in late June. Photo by Reena Singh.
Lesley Pappalardo, a slender brunette, stopped her car in front of a home with smoke billowing out of its windows in late June.
Worried that someone was still inside, she opened the door to find an elderly man lying on the ground of the burning building and his dogs waiting for help.
Pappalardo was recognized earlier this month by the Herndon Town Council for selflessly saving Allen Chambers and his two dogs.
“Life seems to be like a movie,” said councilmember Jasbinder Singh, quoting Lesley from her actions on June 26.
He read a poem he wrote about the events that day - how Pappalardo saw Chambers lying on the ground and pulled him - inch by inch - until he was outside.
One of his dogs followed, but Chambers mentioned to her that there was another dog left inside. She went back into the burning home, grabbed the dog by neck and brought it outside to safety. She waited for the fire trucks to finally reach the house before she even thought about leaving.
“I was on the train going to Florida because I had an aunt who was dying, and so I wasn’t there,” said Allen’s wife, Dorothy Chambers. “If it wasn’t for her, I just don’t even want to think what could have happened.”
She gave Pappalardo Knockout Roses to plant in her yard. She, the Chambers and several town council members were visibly teary-eyed by the end of the group photo taken to commemorate her award.
Pappalardo was not available for comment after the meeting.
“Well, that is what Herndon is all about right there,” said Mayor Lisa Merkel. “People doing the hard thing, the right thing, and helping their neighbors.”