Posts

Posted on

About the National EMS Memorial Foundation:

The National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation’s sole purpose is to establish a permanent EMS memorial in Washington DC or its environs to honor, recognize and remember the commitment, service and sacrifice of the Nation’s EMS heroes who have died in the line of duty and for those who continue this service commitment and sacrifice. For more information, visit www.emsmemorial.com. “Like” us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/National-EMS-Memorial-Foundation/139542192884813?fref=ts; Follow us on Twitter at @EMSmemorial

For National EMS Memorial Foundation
Media inquiries and interview requests, contact:
Katie Orsino, Executive Director
617-596-9550
Katie@emsmemorial.com

Posted on

About the National EMS Memorial Service:

The National EMS Memorial Service was established to remember and honor those emergency medical services personnel who have died in the line of duty and to recognize the ultimate sacrifice they have made for their fellow man. An all-volunteer effort, the Service is held annually for honorees families supported by participants and Honor Guard members from across the US and includes the National EMS Moment of Silence. For more information, visit www.national-ems-memorial.org. “Like” us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NEMSMS; Follow us on Twitter at @NEMSMS and @NEMSMSweekend.

For National EMS Memorial Service
Media inquiries and interview requests, contact:
Sara Hunt, Public Relations Coordinator
804-994-1120
SaraHuntPR@gmail.com

Posted on

National EMS Memorial Service

11053208_917462758295407_7821526958531242718_n

Why Red Poppies on Memorial Day?

In 1915, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms. Michael. When she returned to France she made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children’s League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help.

Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans’ organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their “Buddy” Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms. Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.

 

Posted on

2015 Weekend of Tribute

Weekend of Tribute 
June 25 – 28, 2015

The events are hosted in two cities; Littleton and Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The following is schedule of events for the Weekend of Tribute. If you plan on attending the full weekend of events, we recommend you fly into Denver on Thursday morning, June 25 and rent a car for the drive to Colorado Springs (approx. 1 hr. drive) on Friday June 26 following the Air Medical Memorial Services. All of the Memorial events are non-denominational.

If you have any questions about the Weekend, please do not hesitate to contact:

Steven Sweeney, Founder, Air Medical Memorial at ssweeney@amcs3.org
Christina Gasparich, Director, Behind the Wings Family Support Network cgasparich@amcs3.org
Rande McCrary, Board Member, National EMS Memorial Service at randemccrary@sbcglobal.net
Robert Collett, Colorado Route Coordinator, National EMS Memorial Bike Ride at robert.collett@uchealth.org

Posted on

Memorial Day

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America.

On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there.

Posted on

2015 Memorial Service

June 27 – 28, 2015 Colorado Springs, Colorado

We are proud to honor those who gave their lives in the line of duty in 2014. Each year, families, friends and coworkers from around the nation come together during this Weekend of Tribute. This weekend of events not only recognizes and honors their sacrifice, but also provides support to the loved ones who are left behind. Please join us for these important and meaningful events.

Posted on

2015 National EMS Memorial Service Honorees

Raymond ‘Ray’ Bernard Allison
Sterling County EMS
Sterling City, Texas

James ‘Jamie’ Butler
TriState CareFlight
Santa Fe, New Mexico

David Cavigneaux
TriState CareFlight
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Monica Chavez
Elite Medical Transport
El Paso, Texas

Erasmus ‘Johan’ van der Colff IV
Air Evac Lifeteam
Duncan, Oklahoma

Benjamin J. ‘Jay’ Finney
Sedwick County EMS
Wichita, Kansas

Gerald ‘Garry’ Hammer
Parkview-LaGrange County EMS
LaGrange, Indiana

Michael Howard
Jewett EMS, Inc.
Jewett, Texas

Juan Alfredo ‘Freddy’ Martinez
Elite Medical Transport
El Paso, Texas

Dennis Houston Rushing
ASAP Ambulance
Laurel, Mississippi

Rebecca Serkey
TriState CareFlight
Santa Fe, New Mexico

William ‘Alan’ Smith
ASAP Ambulance
Laurel, Mississippi

Leslie Stewart
Air Evac Lifeteam
Duncan, Oklahoma

Taurean Summers
Elite Medical Transport
El Paso, Texas

Will Wiita
Coldspring-Excelsior Fire Dept.
Kalkaska, Michigan

Posted on

Honor Guards

American Medical Response EMS Honor Guard
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Austin-Travis County EMS Honor Guard
Austin, Texas
City of Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS Honor Guard
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Chancellor Volunteer Fire and Rescue Honor Guard
Spotsylvania, Virginia
City of Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS Honor Guard
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Elizabeth Township EMS Honor Guard
Elizabeth
Township, Pennsylvania
FDNY Bureau of EMS Ceremonial Detail Unit
Brooklyn, New York
Forest Park EMS Honor Guard
Forest Park, Oklahoma
Minnesota EMS Honor Guard
Saint Cloud, MinnesotaMissouri
EMS Honor Guard
Flint Hill, Missouri
Sedgwick County EMS Honor Guard
Wichita, Kansas
Stamford EMS Honor Guard
Stamford, Connecticut
Sussex County EMS Honor Guard
Georgetown, Delaware
Tri-County EMS Association EMS Honor
Guard
Baldwin, Wisconsin
Posted on

2003 National EMS Memorial Service Honoree William Lawton

Ambulances and fire trucks lined the town of Middletown for the young man who so gallantly waited to become one of them. He worked hard from the age of 12 to work at his calling, that of a rescuer. His final action as an EMT in this town was a CPR call. The person survived his attack. What a way for a person who loved rescue work to say good-bye.

William R. Lawton, 18, Killingworth, Connecticut was killed when the ambulance he was driving was involved in a fiery head-on collision on September 2, 1989. The young EMT was part of a transport team that was returning a patient from a dialysis treatment when a pick-up truck rounded a curve on the wrong side of the road and into the path of the Hunter’s Ambulance. Another team member was killed and a third was critically wounded.

ill was an employee of Hunters Ambulance Service as an EMT. He was a volunteer with Killingworth Ambulance as well as with Killingworth Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue. He was preparing himself to become a professional paramedic and firefighter.

Honored 2003