As the FDNY honored some of its bravest from firehouses throughout the city Wednesday, the firefighter's union launched a new campaign to blast the mayor for proposing to close 20 of them. NY1's Joe Malvasio filed the following report.

Queens firefighter Michael Czech of Ladder Company 142 received top honors Wednesday at the New York City Fire Department's annual Medal Day ceremony at City Hall.

The firefighter is credited with saving the lives of three people he found unconscious in a burning building last January in Ozone Park.

"This is unbelievable it's crazy, you never think you are going to get a chance to come to medal day. Let alone win something like this," Czech said.

Just last year, another firefighter from the same ladder company won the same honors for his own heroics. Members of Marine 1 were also commended at this year's Medal Day for their actions during the Miracle on the Hudson splash landing.

"It's an honor just to be acknowledged with my friends for our work," said Marine Company 1 Pilot Robert Spadaro.

Looming large over the festivities at City Hall were the pending budget cuts and talk of a list of 20 companies that could be closed to save money.

Both Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Fire Commissioner Sal Cassano have been tight lipped about which ones are on the chopping block.

The United Firefighters Association says there's no guarantee that some of the dozens of firefighters honored at Medal Day will not be from companies that could be cut.

"The heroes who are being honored today may be from firehouses that could potential be closed. If that happens firefighters cannot make rescues from closed fire houses," said UFA President Stephen Cassidy.

To get their message out, the union parked a new mobile billboard outside the ceremony with a map depicting one scenario for potential cuts in each borough. As budget talks heat up, the union says the new tool will be traveling to neighborhoods across the city.

Neither the mayor nor the fire commissioner acknowledged the billboard during their remarks at the ceremony.