Each year, the Colorado Springs Police Department gathers to honor its best and brightest in the “Medal of Valor” ceremony, and this year KKTV 11 News has been given the opportunity to pick the winner of a Citizen of Distinction Award. We're happy to announce this year's winner!

The Citizen of Distinction Award is given to a member of the community who went above and beyond to help someone in an emergency. We narrowed it down to two, and you all picked the winner in a Web poll.

After a day of online voting, we are happy to announce that Sgt First Class Travion Smith and Tech Sgt Rodney Reed will be honored as this year's Citizens of Distinction with 70 percent of the vote.

Here's their heroic story:

This citizen's hero story involves two servicemen who saved a teenager after he was hit by a car and left in the road. These two men in uniform are already heroes for serving our country, but Sgt First Class Travion Smith and Tech Sgt Rodney Reed aren't being called heroes for what they did in the warzone. They're being called heroes because last October, they put their lives on the link to save a teenager who was struck by a car and left bleeding in the street at Chelton and Academy in Colorado Springs.

Jeremy Russeau, 18, was walking home when he was hit by a car. Thanks to Reed and Smith, he survived the accident. Between the two, they have more than 20 years experience serving our country and despite all of the praise they're receiving for saving Jeremy, these two remain humble.

"I was just doing what I thought was right."

The two will be honored at this year's Medal of Valor Luncheon on September 22 at the Broadmoor Hotel from 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. The ceremony is open to the public. Reserve your tickets by calling 444-7874.