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.
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.