The Memorial

The National EMS Memorial

There is not yet a National EMS Memorial monument built in Washington, D.C. However, the National EMS Memorial Foundation brought its effort to Capitol Hill inspiring Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (D-Boston) and Congressman Peter T. King (R-New York) to introduce H.R. 1037, A Bill to Establish a National EMS Memorial.

The bill passed and plans are underway to build a National EMS Memorial in Washington, DC.

The National EMS Memorial Service has a traveling memorial that is erected during  NEMSMS Weekend of Honor every year.

This memorial is called the Tree of Life.

The Tree of Life is a representation of an oak tree, symbolizing strength. The name, agency and date of loss of each National EMS Memorial Service honoree is engraved on a bronze oak leaf, which is then added to the Tree of Life.

From the inception of the National EMS Memorial Service through April of 2006, the Tree of Life was on display in the To The Rescue Museum in Roanoke, Virginia. On April 30, 2006, To The Rescue closed it doors permanently. At that time the search for a new home for the Tree of Life began.

After a two-year search, on May 7, 2008, the National EMS Memorial Service’s Board of Directors announced its choice of Colorado Springs, Colorado as the new host city of the Service and home of a future permanent Tree of Life, the National EMS Memorial.

The Tree of Life was on display in Colorado Springs until the decision was made in August 2015 that the National EMS Memorial Service, National EMS Memorial Foundation and the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride would collaborate on a shared vision and strategic plan to honor EMS heroes who have died in the line of duty. That collaborative effort would take place on the national stage of the greater Washington, D.C. area.

In May 2016, the National EMS Memorial Service was held in Arlington, Virginia and remains in the greater Washington D.C. area to strengthen the effort being led by the National EMS Memorial Foundation to establish a permanent National EMS Memorial.