A central Illinois man has been awarded the Carnegie Medal for thwarting an attack by a knife-wielding man at a chess club session for children.

The Peoria Journal Star reports that James Vernon was awarded the medal on Monday by Illinois Rep. Darin LaHood. The honor is given to someone from the U.S. or Canada who risks their life while saving or attempting to save the lives of others.

The Army veteran was 75 when he fought off the 19-year-old man trying to attack people at Morton Public Library in 2015. Vernon suffered cuts to two arteries and a tendon.

Vernon is credited with saving the lives of children and parents who were at the event.

The attacker, Dustin Brown, was arrested and later sentenced to prison.