Author: NEMSMS

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

James V. Maguire, IV

Hillsborough Rescue Squad
Hillsborough, New Jersey

James V. Maguire, IV, Paramedic of the Hillsborough Rescue Squad, died December 7, 2015 at the age of 57. James was a husband as well as a father to two sons and a grandfather.

“Jim” was active in EMS since 1979, when he joined the Hillsborough Rescue Squad. Over the years he served as Crew Chief, Lieutenant, and President. Jim also served as a police officer from 1984 until his retirement in 2008. He served in the United States Marine Corps.

After retiring from the police force, Jim returned to school and received his National Registry and New Jersey Paramedic certifications. On December 6, 2015 Jim performed CPR for an extended period of time on a cardiac arrest patient, Jim suffered a heart attack the next morning and died, December 7, 2015.

Honored 2016

John Mackey

Jessamine County EMS
Nicholasville, Kentucky

By all accounts, Paramedic John Mackey was ‘far from normal.’ He reveled in his Scottish heritage and often wore a kilt. Among his ‘abnormal’ qualities was that he characteristically looked for the best in others and he had a passion for service. That passion as well as the influence of a family of public servants is what drew him to EMS and 16 years of dedicated service.

John Mackey gave his life in the line of duty on November 9, 2015 when he succumbed to injuries sustained four days earlier when he was struck by a car while surveying damage to his ambulance after being involved in a minor crash.

John has stepped out of the ring and thrown down the gloves, but not before giving his all in one last lifesaving act by donating his organs to someone else who may be lying in another hospital waiting for a match.

John Mackey will live on in our hearts, and we shall never forget him or his contributions to this community.

Honored 2016

Marco Antonio Lopez

American Ambulance/SkyLife Helicopter
Fresno, California

Marco Antonio Lopez, or Tony as some called him, began his medical career as a US Navy Combat Nurse during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He loved helping people in need and his desire to provide pre-hospital care led him to become a Critical Care Flight Nurse.

On the evening of December 10, 2015, 42-year-old Navy veteran and Flight Nurse Marco Antonio Lopez was transporting a critically ill patient when the helicopter crashed, killing all on board.

Marco was engaged and was father to a young son and a young daughter. Marco loved the challenges and rewards that came with his job.

Honored 2016

Kenneth Krulish

St. Johns County Fire Rescue
St. Augustine, Florida

Kenneth Krulish, Captain of the St. Johns County Fire Department in St. Augustine, Florida died January 22, 2013, at the age of 49.

Kenneth was a husband and father to two children. Kenneth was a founding member of the St. Johns County Fire Rescue and served as the department Training Captain. He joined the county’s EMS agency in the 1990’s and has been involved ever since, including helping lead the merger of the fire and EMS into a unified system. Krulish organized training initiatives for new recruits and helped grow the department from a few dozen to nearly 300.

Captain Krulish finished an exhausting and stressful 24-hour shift on January 21, 2013. On January 22, while training as an avid runner for a 15k road race, Kenneth collapsed and died.

Honored 2016

Kristin Elizabeth McLain

Travis County Star Flight
Austin, Texas

Kristin’s life was about putting others first. She began her medical career in 2001 as an ER nurse and soon pursued a career as a flight nurse beginning with Flight for Life in Summit County, Colorado. She took a lead in everything she did, from the emergency medical field, to community fundraising events.

Kristin never thought twice about putting her life before others. Kristin gave her life in the line of duty on April 27, 2015, during a helicopter rescue mission in Austin while pursuing her passion and sharing her gifts.

Those who knew Kristin would tell you that more than anything she had discipline and persistence, combined with a caring, loving heart. Whatever Kristin put her mind to, she accomplished. Her tenacity was inspiring, but the heart that created it, tender and generous.

Honored 2016