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Media inquiries and interview requests, contact:

Tammy Chatman, Public Affairs

414-791-6655

tammy.chatman@national-ems-memorial.org

144 EMS Fallen to be Honored During the National EMS Weekend of Honor
This year’s honorees include 48 from 2020, 24 from 2019 and 72 that are historical

Washington, D.C. (June 28, 2021) – The National EMS Memorial Service, the National EMS Memorial Foundation and the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride will pay tribute to 144 EMS and air medical fallen from 39 states across the U.S. during the 2021 National EMS Weekend of Honor. It is scheduled July 23-25 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport, 2799 Richmond Highway in Arlington, Va. The increased number of honorees being recognized this year is due to last year’s cancellation combined with ongoing research and vetting efforts dedicated to locating yet-to-be-honored EMS fallen from the past. This year’s lists include the 2019 and 2020 honorees plus 72 past EMS fallen dating back as far as 1895 that were researched and vetted for inclusion thanks to the efforts of many volunteers.

There will be a variety of activities during the three days, two of which are open to the public and media. All are invited and encouraged to attend as a show of support for the selfless service and sacrifice of the honorees and the loved ones they left behind. On Friday afternoon, July 23, 2021, the arrival of the Moving Honor ambulance escorted by the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride’s Ride of Honor, unveiling ceremony of the EMS Tree of Life and presentation of dog tags to the families will occur. The following evening, July 24, 2021, the National EMS Memorial Service, a formal ceremony to honor fallen EMS and air medical professionals, will be held. Both events will be located at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City.

Therapy and comfort dogs as well as grief support teams from a variety of volunteer groups will be onsite throughout the weekend to offer support to the families and EMS volunteers. The Service will be livestreamed.

Detailed information, including a link to the live stream of the Service, will be posted to the National EMS Memorial Service website and Facebook page once finalized.

The National EMS Weekend of Honor usually coincides with the beginning of National EMS Week in May but due to the pandemic it was rescheduled to maintain the health and safety of all involved.  “Though the service was rescheduled, we remain committed to honor the EMS and air medical providers who have made the ultimate sacrifice and support the loved ones they left behind” said Jana Williams, president of the National EMS Memorial Service. “It is our duty to ensure their sacrifice is not forgotten.”

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. See http://www.national-ems-memorial.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/NEMSMS for more information on the specific event times and locations as they become available.

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Editor’s Note: High resolution images can be downloaded from Dropbox via the links below.

Image #1: https://www.dropbox.com/s/w5v0x7bcgesy7w3/NEMSMS_71.JPG?dl=0

Image #2: https://www.dropbox.com/s/8otmp9nb6mlhbg3/NEMSMBR%20Arrival_8.JPG?dl=0

tammy.chatman@national-ems-memorial.org

Media inquiries and interview requests, contact:

Tammy Chatman, Public Affairs

414-791-6655

National EMS Weekend of Honor 2021-New dates and location announced

Washington, D.C. (April 4, 2021) – The National EMS Memorial Bike Ride (NEMSMBR), the National EMS Memorial Foundation (NEMSMF) and the National EMS Memorial Service (NEMSMS) announce that the 2021 National EMS Memorial Service and Weekend of Honor, originally scheduled for May has been moved to July 23-25, 2021 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport, Arlington, VA. The goal for the reschedule was to balance our commitment to provide a safe and healing environment for all attendees while providing special recognition for the many participants who remain on the front-line of the COVID-19 response. The ceremonies will pay tribute to the past two year’s honorees-2019-2020-due to the cancellation of the 2020 events in response to the pandemic.

For those attending the Weekend of Honor and staying overnight, we ask that you please use the link below when booking your hotel rooms. The health and well-being of all who attend are of the upmost importance to our organizations and the hosting facility. Use of the link is critical as it allows our organizations and the hotel to better meet CDC guidelines for safe in-person gatherings over the three days.

https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/WASRC/G-A8DT                              

*For any issues please contact the hotel at 877-803-7534

The Weekend includes a series of events to honor all air and ground Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers who serve in the US, while focusing on those who become ill or injured related to their duty. It culminates with a formal Service to specifically honor those who have died in the line-of-duty. 

Brian Shaw, NEMSMBR president states “For the past 20 years the National EMS Memorial Service and Weekend of Honor begin with the arrival of our cyclist and support personnel meeting the honoree families. With that tradition in mind, and in addition to the five nationwide bike rides we have planned for September of this year, we are actively preparing a one-day ride into this year’s Weekend of Honor befitting our honorees. We will continue to shine a light on the sacrifices those in EMS make. More details will be posted on our website www.nemsmbr.org as they become available.” 

This year’s National EMS Memorial Service will pay tribute to over one hundred EMS providers who died in the line-of-duty in the largest service we have ever performed.  It will include numerous historical honorees as well a number of recipients directly related to the pandemic.  Jana Williams, NEMSMS president conveyed, “I reaffirm there has never been a more defining time to honor the service and sacrifice of those in EMS as there remains right now. Despite persistent challenges, we remain committed that the fallen will not be forgotten.  We appreciate the continued support to ensure they receive the full national recognition they deserve.”  The list of honorees and information on the weekend’s events including the National EMS Moment of Silence will be posted to the NEMSMS website at www.national-ems-memorial.org in the coming weeks. 

Katie Orsino, NEMSMF executive director shared “We support our partners at the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride and the National EMS Memorial Service as they prepare modified events this year to honor our EMS colleagues. What our first responders have demonstrated especially over the last year has been extraordinary. It reinforces our resolve to bring a permanent EMS memorial to the nation’s capital to honor their commitment, service, and sacrifice. We will not waiver in our efforts to ensure it becomes reality.” Updates on the progress of this effort can be found on at www.emsmemorial.org.

The Weekend of Honor is organized and hosted by the following volunteer-staffed organizations: National EMS Memorial Bike Ride, National EMS Memorial, and the National EMS Memorial Foundation. See http://www.national-ems-memorial.org/ for more information on the specific updates as they become available.

Media inquiries and interview requests, contact:

Tammy Chatman, Public Affairs

414-791-6655

tammy.chatman@national-ems-memorial.org

2020 National EMS Moment of Silence Announcement

Washington, D.C. (May 6, 2020) – The National EMS Memorial Bike Ride (NEMSMBR), the National EMS Memorial Foundation (NEMSMF), and the National EMS Memorial Service (NEMSMS) announce the 2020 National EMS Moment of Silence and ask for broad participation.

The National EMS Moment of Silence will be observed on Saturday, May 16, 2020.  It will begin at 1800 (6:00 PM) Eastern Daylight Time with a live-streamed reading of the names of the 24 Honorees originally planned for the 2020 Service, followed by an acknowledgement of those continuing to serve today and will culminate in a national moment of silence in a salute to all.

Organizers recognize these are unprecedented times for our world, our nation, and the collective first responder communities. Jana Williams, president of the National EMS Memorial Service said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has affected virtually every aspect of life including efforts by our organizations who remain dedicated to honoring EMS personnel for their service and especially for those who have died in the line of duty. While this ruthless virus keeps us physically apart, we can still join together to make sure our fallen and their families receive the acknowledgment they deserve.”

The Moment of Silence normally coincides with the annual National EMS Memorial Service which was postponed until next year due to COVID-19 precautions.  Williams continued, “With deep respect for the honorees and first responders who remain on the front lines, the National EMS Moment of Silence takes on greater importance as a meaningful reminder that the fallen will not be forgotten.  It is a touchless, responsible, yet impactful means to pause and remember without taking away from the necessary work at hand.”

This endeavor provides an opportunity for anyone to honor and remember first responders and especially those EMS providers who have given their lives in the line of duty.  It is also a way for the families and EMS colleagues of the fallen to feel the support of our nation.  Normally during the Service, at a specified time, the screens fade to black and a simple message informs family members and other attendees that across the country radios are simultaneously broadcasting the message below as a unified show of support. 

First responders, communications agencies and even members of the public wishing to participate are requested to observe 10-20 seconds of radio or general silence at the time indicated in the suggested script below. 

[NOTE: ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME. Please adjust as required for your time zone to coincide simultaneously. Also, time transmission of any alert/activation tones to begin speaking at the time indicated below.]

Begin script:

18:04:50                      (Insert tones as applicable, then wait 5 seconds)

(6:04:50 PM)              “All units please stand by for a special message…

18:04:55                      “Attention all units…

In conjunction with first responders across the nation and in recognition of the National EMS Memorial Service – an event that would be occurring now, but is postponed until next year due to continued COVID-19 efforts, this agency will observe a moment of radio silence in honor of our nation’s Emergency Medical Services providers who have made the Ultimate Sacrifice, and given their lives in the line of duty. The fallen are not forgotten.  We also pause in honor of those who continue to serve.  Your commitment and sacrifice defy words and inspire us all.

Please stand by unless you have emergency traffic”

18:05:00                      [Begin Moment of Silence]

18:05:20                      “This concludes the moment of silence. Thank you. Please resume normal radio traffic.”

:End script

Live streaming of this event will be provided on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NEMSMS. Organizers respectfully encourage everyone to post participation to social media platforms using #moment2honor and #ultimatesacrifice.

For more information please visit The National EMS Memorial Service at www.national-ems-memorial.org or our partners at The National EMS Memorial Bike Ride at www.nemsmbr.org and The National EMS Memorial  Foundation at www.emsmemorial.org.

2020 National EMS Moment of Silence Participant Information

The purpose of the National EMS Memorial Service is to honor and remember those Emergency Medical Services personnel who have given their lives in the line-of-duty and to recognize the Ultimate Sacrifice they have made for their fellow human beings.

Never Forgotten Honorees for the annual service typically died in the calendar year preceding the service year. Some honorees’ deaths occurred prior to this but were only recently classified as occurring in the line-of-duty, or only recently brought to the attention of the National EMS Memorial Service, and therefore, are now being honored.

During the service, a family member or agency representative will be presented with a United States flag, which has flown over the United States Capitol, on behalf of a grateful nation and denoting the honoree’s service to their country; a white rose representing their undying love and a medallion signifying their eternal memory are also presented.

Each person being recognized is also represented by his or her state flag. After the reading of the Honorees’ names, there will be a National Moment of Silence. The names of those who are honored today appear on the newly minted 2019 “Tree of Life,” the temporary National EMS Memorial.

Click here to download the 2019 NEMSMS Program