Major Metzger, a student at Virginia Beach Middle School, was with family and friends at Wintergreen Ski Resort in January 2025, when he committed an act of bravery that saved another child from a 16-foot fall and earned him the Carnegie Medal for Heroism.
“All I could think about was how scared I was and making sure I didn’t drop him,” Major recalls, referring to the day of the incident. Major is the son of Amy and Mark Metzger.
Six-year-old Bryce Rader and Major, then 10 years old, were on the chairlift together riding to the slopes. When Major noticed Bryce was slipping, he grabbed his friend’s hand – even as Bryce continued to slip further off the lift. Major held onto Bryce, who was wearing a heavy helmet and skis, for about four minutes until ski patrol arrived with a safety mat and advised him to let go. Bryce landed safely on the mat, suffering only minor injuries.
“Something that helped me hold on to him was all the thoughts in my head of him getting hurt and how much pressure was on me to hold on until ski patrol arrived,” he says.
Major was awarded the Carnegie Medal for Heroism this past summer. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger presented him the award at his school on Sept. 16. The honor was presented by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, an organization whose mission is to “recognize and support those who perform acts of heroism in civilian life in the United States and Canada.”
For Major, the award was simply a bonus. “I am very honored to get the award,” he says. “But this was never about getting an award, it was saving my friend.”
Heroism on a ski lift:Major Metzger’s strong hold
