Honorees

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Year Honored
2009
Honoree
Raul Garcia, Jr.
Agency
Valley AirCare
Agency City
Harlingen
Agency State
TX
Last Call
2/5/08
Cause of Death
Medical Aviation Accident
Biography
The heavy winds came again and blew the red and white roses side to side as they lay in remembrance on the helicopter pad of Valley Air Care. They were placed earlier by grieving team members that were paying tribute to their fallen comrades.<br /> <br /> Raul Garcia, Jr., was killed in the line of duty on February 5, 2008. He was one of two medics aboard a medical helicopter that was to take part in a transport of a patient from South Padres Island. The helicopter had aborted its trip because of bad weather. Minutes later it crashed into the Laguna Madre near the Island. There were no survivors.<br /> <br /> Garcia was employed as a flight nurse with Valley AirCare. He received his bachelor's degree in nursing in December and was enrolled in the nurse practitioner program at the University of Texas. Garcia was the company's former chief flight nurse.<br /> <br /> "This is especially hard for us; the team always flew together and we were friends. They were a good team and will be missed," said a co-worker. They lived to save lives; they were very dedicated people. We are all like a big family but these three were special.<br /> <br /> Honored 2009