ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- For several days, they pedaled through the countryside and up the hills of the East Coast.
They were sore and tired, yet they pedaled on in the memory of their fallen EMS family and to bring attention to the calling of those who provide pre-hospital care.
They are the Muddy Angels.
On Saturday night, riders and their wingmen traded bike shorts for Class A uniforms to remember the fallen heroes.
Emotions ran the gamut as the FDNY EMS pipers marched in, and paused to play Amazing Grace.
In addition to responders from across America, the Muddy Angels lost two close friends this year. Joshua Weissman, 33, was a paramedic in Alexandria, Va., who died of injuries sustained in a fall while on duty, and Lori Foster-Mayfield, 34, a paramedic from Reno, Nv., who died suddenly from a medical issue.
Riders paid special tribute to Weissman when they arrived in Alexandria on Friday evening.
Alexandria Fire Chief Adam Thiel said while the city is honored to have been chosen for the finishing ceremony, it meant much more this year.
He said Feb. 8-9 were terrible days for his department, referring to when Weissman plunged into a ravine from an opening along an interstate highway.
“It was the worst thing in my 20 year career,” he said.
Yet, the outpouring of sympathy and condolences from around the world helped ease the pain.
“That brotherhood and sisterhood we share is global.”
The chief said he recently spent time with Weissman’s mother, who has been so touched by Josh’s EMS and fire family. It was something she'd been told about, but she didn’t realize just how tight it is.
He lauded the riders for their dedication to remember those who have fallen.
NAEMT President Connie Meyer also praised the Muddy Angels for pedaling on despite the pain, the length of the hill or the challenging weather.
“This year’s theme for EMS week is “EMS - not just a job, a calling.” I believe that we are called to this life of serving others. We have received the gifts that enable us to reach out and make a difference: to put a little order back into a chaotic situation, to know the right intervention or medication that is needed, to know when the best treatment is a kind word, a gentle touch and understanding attitude.
Meyer spoke of the impact that some have on others.
“Although they are no longer with us, the colleagues whose lives we celebrate today have left indelible markings upon our lives, upon the lives of the patients they cared for, and upon the character of the profession of EMS.
They were our co-workers, our mentors, our friends. These men and women were called to the profession of EMS and continued to give of themselves until their untimely departure. Their compassion and care touched many lives. Their friendship brought us joy...”
She smiled slightly and her voice changed as she remembered someone important to her, Ned Neustrom.
“Ned had a very down to earth way of looking at life and our profession. He never wanted to call attention to himself, just wanted to do what was right for his friends, his family and his patients. He never questioned whether the patient was “sick enough” to need his services – he just cared for them in a nonjudgmental way. June 17, 2004, was one of those routine days at work. Ned ran several calls, including a cardiac arrest call and his patient regained pulses; and walked out of the hospital a few days later. Ned would shrug this off as “part of the job, no big deal.”
His patient’s family thought it was a big deal though.
The next morning, the engine crew returned to the station after an early morning alarm to find Ned himself in cardiac arrest in the station.
They worked frantically but were unable to bring Ned back, and he was honored at the 2005 National EMS Memorial Service.
Ned had touched so many lives during his years with Med-Act.
Along with the friends, family and coworkers at his funeral there was another family -- that of the patient Ned had saved just hours before his own death.”
