Month: July 2016

Barry Miller

Bergen Fire Department, Inc.
Bergen, New York

Barry Miller served the citizens of his community for all of his adult life. At 50 years of age, he had served with the Bergen Fire Department for 32 years – so long that he had been granted “life member” status.

He served in various leadership capacities over the years and also in multiple positions on the department’s Board of Directors. He also earned the distinction of being one of the department’s most active responders over the entire 32-year period.

In addition to being the Department’s Assistant Chief over EMS, he also served as his county’s coroner and had previously served on the town board. He was truly the backbone of the department and a pillar of his community.

Tragically, Assistant Chief Miller was killed in the line of duty on September 23, 2015 while he and two others responded in an ambulance to a report of a person having difficulty breathing. As they crested a hill, the ambulance struck the rear of a slow moving backhoe. The accident was attributed to low visibility due to fog and the ambulance’s driver being temporarily blinded by sunlight. Honored 2016

Harold McNeil

FDNY-EMS
New York, New York

Harold McNeil joined the New York City Emergency Medical Service in 1975 after serving in the United States Marine Corps. Working the streets in the “War Days,” Harold quickly gained a reputation for being a “go-to guy”. As a Lieutenant, Harold earned the respect of his peers and subordinates for being a true gentleman and a fair officer who put the concerns of his employees before his own. Like many of his coworkers, Harold responded to and spent countless hours at the World Trade Center following the attacks on September 11, 2001.

His employees recall that, after the attacks on 9/11, the department was handing out medals to the employees. On payday, without fanfare, he felt the honor deserved so he organized a formal award ceremony at his station. Many say, “He didn’t work at station 31. He WAS Station 31”. Harold retired in 2004 to Pennsylvania where he drove a school bus and stayed active in his community and church, singing in the choir and knitting hats for infants and preemies for a local hospital.

Harold died on September 8, 2015 from complications of exposure to toxins at the World Trade Center site. He will be remembered for his encouraging words, warm smile, and an inviting embrace. Honored 2016

William L. McKinney, Jr.

Rockingham County EMS
Wentworth, North Carolina

Captain William “Billy” L. McKinney Jr. of Rockingham County EMS, in Wentworth, North Carolina, died January 14, 2015 at the age of 42. The morning of January 14 Billy had just completed his 12-hour rotation and was headed home. The weather was poor with freezing rain, sleet, and hazardous road conditions reported. While traveling home, Billy stopped to assist a motorist in an accident due to road conditions. While assisting the motorist, he was struck and killed.

William began his career with Rockingham County EMS as a part-time EMT. He attended Rockingham Community College and received his Paramedic certification and was hired as a full-time Paramedic in 1997. Billy continued his career and was promoted to Lieutenant and then to Shift Captain in September 2014. Billy was a husband as well as a father to two daughters. Honored 2016

Matt Michael Mathews

Eagle Med
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Matt loved flying helicopters. It was his life goal to help others. Flying was a huge part of him.

He served in the United States Army for 18 years, serving two deployments to Iraq. He held the responsibility of flying a Chinook helicopter. According to his co-pilot he was always in really good spirits, joking all the time. But when it came time to get serious, he would get right down to business.

Matt had three wishes in life: to serve in his country, to fly a helicopter and to meet someone he loved. He accomplished all three. His fiancée Lisa Lee said that every day he would say “I’ve got to get sleep because I’ve got to go save lives.”

Matt gave his life in the line of duty on March 13, 2015. While responding to pick up a patient, Matt’s helicopter went down.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

Honored 2016

Patrick Edwin Mahany

Flight for Life-Colorado
Lakewood, Colorado

Patrick had a zest for life and did all of his activities with passion and exuberance – whether hiking, skiing, water skiing, soccer, watching the Denver Broncos, or driving his sports cars.

Knowing he would be drafted, Patrick joined the US Army and graduated flight school in 1970. During his one tour in Vietnam he flew 1200 combat hours. He was shot down three times and earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.

He embodied the spirit of service to others, whether it be his crew and colleagues, whom he greatly loved, or the people he and his crew worked to save daily. He was not only a skilled pilot from years of experience, but was also a trusted one with each crew member who had full confidence in his skill and abilities.

On July 3, 2015, Patrick traded his rotor wings for angel’s wings when his helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff. It is believed that his life ended the same way he spent much of it – trying to save lives. His skilled hands, along with God’s, kept the aircraft away from crowds on the ground when it went down.

Patrick’s legacy will endure forever; it’s a legacy forged in helping others, something he was born to do.

Honored 2016