Robert Morton, Jr., 27, died in the line of duty April 11, 1938, when he was thrown from the rear of an ambulance while responding to an emergency on Staten Island.
Morton’s skull was fractured, and he succumbed to his injuries later the same day. “Dr. Morton, who was specializing in surgery at St. Vincent’s, had been assigned to ambulance duty. About 2 p.m. a call was made for an ambulance to go to an address on N. Burgher Ave.
Dr. Morton responded in an ambulance driven by John Tighe,” the New York Times article reads in part. “The entrance that on the small seat at the rear of the vehicle, which is closed by the swinging doors. Detectives expressed the belief that one of the doors swung open, and that Dr. Morton, in an attempt to close it, lost his balance and was thrown for the speeding machine.
Tighe was unaware of the accident until a passersby called to him.” Morton was a graduate of Fordham University and of the New York University Medical College. He began his internship at St. Vincent’s July of 1937.
Kristopher “Kris” Ray Harrison, 44, of Garner, North Carolina, died in the line-of-duty alongside two of his team members and the patient they were caring for when the air medical helicopter he was aboard crashed in Perquimans County while en route to Elizabeth City.
Kris received his RN from Wake Tech in 1997, which is also where he met his wife, Kasey Hobson Harrison. He was known to be an avid sportsman and outdoorsman that enjoyed Spartan races, mud runs, camping, hunting, NC State and activities with his daughters. Members of his community remember him as a devoted husband, loving father and fun guy with a great sense of humor that would try anything.
After losing his mother as a teen, he worked hard and dedicated his life to serving others with a passion for those in need of critical care.
Washington, DC — The National EMS Memorial Service today announced the details for the upcoming official memorial service to honor the lives of 36 Emergency Medical Services personnel who died in the line of duty in 2017. Each year, the National EMS Memorial Service (NEMSMS), the National EMS Memorial Foundation and the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride pay tribute to our fallen EMS and air medical practitioners from throughout the United States as part of EMS Week. This year, the memorial service will honor 36 EMS practitioners who died in the line of duty in 2017, as well as some who suffered line of duty deaths in prior years and who had not been recognized for their selfless acts.
Donations Are Needed
Funds are also needed to help cover the high cost of the event. The Memorial Service receives no financial support from any government agency and relies solely on the generosity of private and corporate donations. Much of the cost of running the service go toward the direct expense for the service, memorial flags and pendants, hotel fees and audiovisual equipment, meals, and hotel accommodations.
The Memorial Service covers the lodging costs for family members who need it, to help ensure that all family members will be able to attend and participate in the service and activities. “It costs approximately $130,000 a year to conduct this program and donations are sorely needed as we have not yet reached our fundraising goal to cover these expenses,” said Jana Williams, president of the National EMS Memorial Service. “Having all the families at this weekend to honor their loved ones is so important to help bring some closure to the terrible grief they have suffered – getting them here is the least we can do, as it is so important for them during this difficult time,” she added.
A “gofundme.com” account has been set up – search “2018 NEMSMS” to donate. For corporate donations, contact Tom Liebman by emailing thomas.liebman@national-ems-memorial.org or calling 412-715-5444. The National EMS Memorial Service is a non-profit tax exempt, 5401(c)(3) organization, so donations are tax-deductible to the donor.
National EMS Memorial 2016
Service Details
The official EMS Memorial Service for 2018 will be held on Saturday, May 19 at 6 p.m. in the Cherry Blossom Ballroom at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at National Harbor, 201 Waterfront St., Oxon Hill, MD, 20745. The service is open to the public and the news media are welcome.
“This formal memorial ceremony honoring our fallen EMS practitioners will be a moving tribute, complete with honor guards, testimonials, and music – it will be a celebration of the lives of those emergency service practitioners who gave the ultimate sacrifice while helping others in time of need,” said Williams. “Our nation’s capital is a fitting location for these annual memorial events that commemorate our country’s brave men and women in the field of emergency medical services,” she said.
There will be many activities during the planned three-day “Weekend of Honor” including several programs and events specifically for the families of the fallen, many of whom will be in attendance for the entire weekend. One highlight of the weekend takes place on Friday afternoon, May 18, 2018, with the arrival and tribute ceremony by the nearly 130 riders of the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride who began their week-long ride to honor fallen EMS practitioners in Boston. The ride culminates at the Gaylord with the EMS Memorial Service.
The Weekend of Honor is organized and hosted by the following volunteer-staffed organizations: National EMS Memorial Bike Ride, National EMS Memorial Service, and the National EMS Memorial Foundation. Visit www.national-ems-memorial.org for more information on the specific event times and locations.
David J. Blausen, 32, of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, died in the line-of-duty August 5, 1971, from burn injuries sustained from an oxygen explosion on July 5, 1971, while he was driving an ambulance with the Wilkins-Churchill Ambulance Service. The ambulance that David was driving was having issues with its oxygen system. He stopped at the Churchill Borough Building to collect a portable oxygen tank to continue emergency medical efforts during transport to West Penn Hospital. David attempted to get the oxygen system to work in the driver’s compartment. There was an explosion and subsequent fire causing the ambulance to crash. David became trapped by his melted seatbelt buckle. The fire burned through the seat belt and he was able to escape. He was transported to West Pennsylvania’s Burn Unit. It was there he succumbed to his injuries a month later.
