In 1994, Bob Erwin moved to Madras, OR, and joined the Jefferson County Emergency Medical Service as the training officer. Little did he know that the job change would eventually determine his fate. While many were watching college football games and enjoying the holiday on Jan. 1, 2002, Erwin was dispatched to an auto accident on Highway 97, just south of Madras. While he was laying out flares, a tractor-trailer truck skidded, jackknifed and fell on top of him, killing him. Erwin was only 43.
Eighteen days later, Anthony Pirraglia, a part-time flight nurse with the Meducare/Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, approached a car after it had been involved in an accident with two other cars outside the medical center. As Pirraglia and another nurse approached one of the cars to help, Marko Dupree Drayton took out a gun and shot Pirraglia in the chest, killing him. The other nurse who ran was shot three times, but survived. Drayton later shot and killed a police officer who was pursuing him through the streets of Charleston.
Glenn Jonathan Winuk, who was a life member of the Jericho Fire Department on Long Island, NY, was working as a lawyer several blocks from the World Trade Center on 9/11. When the attack on the World Trade Center occurred, he told his co-workers that he was going to the site to help. That was the last time he was seen. His body, one of the last recovered at the World Trade Center site, was found near those of other victims. Winuk was still wearing latex gloves and he had a medical bag. It was obvious he had been rendering treatment to patients when one of the collapsing towers killed him.
What do all three of these professionals have in common? They, along with 13 other EMS professionals, will be honored on May 24 in Roanoke, VA, at the 2003 National EMS Memorial Service. Roanoke is also home to the 3,000-square-foot "To the Rescue" Museum, the site of the founding of the first rescue squad in the nation. Julian Stanley Wise and nine other men are recognized as forming and organizing the first independent volunteer rescue squad in the nation.
Started in 1992 by the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads to honor those in Virginia who died in the line of duty while performing emergency medical service work, the EMS Memorial Service has now expanded and recognizes those who have died in the line of duty from all over the United States.
The 16 honorees this year join another 252 professionals who have been recognized over the past 11 years. Honorees this year are from a variety of EMS provider agencies, including fire departments, helicopter services, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, county EMS agencies, private ambulance services, hospital-based systems and a rescue squad.
Each year, the family of each honoree is presented with a medallion, symbolizing eternal memory; a U.S. flag that has flown over the Capitol, symbolizing service to the country; and a white rose, symbolizing their undying love.
The 2003 National EMS Memorial Service will be conducted at the Calvary Baptist Church in Roanoke on Saturday evening. In addition to the presentations made during the service, each honoree's name is engraved on a bronze oak leaf that is added to the "Tree of Life," the permanent memorial on exhibit at the "To the Rescue" Museum in Roanoke.
The National EMS Memorial Service is not one event, but a series of events spanning three days. The weekend starts on Saturday morning with a tour of the "To the Rescue" Museum and the "Tree of Life." The weekend ends mid-morning Sunday with the conclusion of the family breakfast.
The National EMS Memorial Service also coincides with National Moment of Silence, which will be observed on Saturday, May 24. The National Moment of Silence offers fire and EMS agencies around the nation the opportunity to join with those in attendance at the National EMS Memorial Service in honoring and remembering those who have died performing emergency medical service care.
The National Moment of Silence seeks voluntary participation by all the nation's EMS providers, agencies and emergency communications centers in observing a moment of radio silence timed to coincide with the moment of silence observed during the service in Roanoke. In previous years, the "Moments" have seen the participation of over 700 agencies and dispatch centers from around the United States. The committee has prepared a suggested script and instructions for agencies wishing to participate. These may be obtained by going to http://nmos.nemsms.org.
For those who have given so much, the National EMS Memorial Service provides the opportunity to help the families find closure, as well as to memorialize those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. More information can be found at http://nemsms.org.
Gary Ludwig, MS, EMT-P, a Firehouse® contributing editor, is the chief of Special Operations for Jefferson County, MO. He retired in 2001 as the chief paramedic for the St. Louis Fire Department after serving the City of St. Louis for 25 years. He is also vice chairman of the EMS Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). He is a frequent speaker at EMS and fire conferences nationally and internationally, and is on the faculty of three colleges. Ludwig has a master's degree in management and business and a bachelor's degree in business administration, and is a licensed paramedic. He also operates The Ludwig Group, a professional consulting firm. He can be reached at 636-789-5660 or via www.garyludwig.com.
