Two little boys who saved their brother from drowning are now honorary deputies with the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

Dalton Gregory, 6, and Parker Gregory, 5, were presented with badges by Sheriff David Taylor during a ceremony Thursday morning at Monarch Elementary School. The boys also received medallions, certificates and T-shirts from the school honoring their heroism. The ceremony was broadcast over WMES, the school’s TV station. Dalton is in the first grade at Monarch while Parker is in kindergarten.

The boys were honored for saving their brother, Braeden, 5, a special needs student at Foster Park Elementary School, from drowning in Lake Murray last month. Their mother, Bridget Gregory, said the family was staying at lake house owned by the boys’ grandparents. One morning while she was still in bed and her husband, Brian, was in another room with his parents and brother, the boys went down to the boat dock. She said that when they attempted to get in the boat it slid away from the dock and Braeden fell into the water.

Mrs. Gregory said Dalton immediately reached into the water, grabbed Braeden by the arm and pulled him up so he could breathe. Braeden was too heavy for him to pull completely out of the lake, so Dalton told Parker to run get their father. Parker ran back to the house and got his father, who ran down to the lake and jumped in to help rescue his son.

Monarch Principal Anita Maness said that Dalton’s response did not surprise her as he is “a very mature, responsible first-grader. We have motto of being responsible, respectful and productive and Dalton and Parker were both responsible.”

The boys’ story made a strong impression on Taylor, who said he wanted to honor them for their courage.

“I was very impressed with their story when Monarch notified me of what happened,” Taylor said. “It’s a story that has a happy ending. At this time of the year when we remember 9/11 and the heroes of that day it’s appropriate that we honor these heroes who saved their brother’s life.”