EMS Memorial 

In 1998, the United States Congress, through concurrent resolutions of the Senate and House of Representatives, designated the National EMS Memorial Service be held annually, as the Official EMS Memorial Service in the United States.

The purpose of the National EMS Memorial Service is to 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. During the service, a family member or agency representative will be presented with a United States flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol denoting the honoree’s service to their country, a white rose representing their undying love, along with a medallion signifying their eternal memory. As part of the service, each person being recognized will be represented by their state flag that is carried by an Honor Guard.  After the last name has been read there will be a moment of silence, followed by a last call and the playing of taps. 

The names of those who are honored appear at the National EMS Memorial “Tree of Life".

Pre-hospital providers are killed every year in the performance of their duties.  An oak “Tree of Life” honors the memory of these emergency medical service personnel.  On this tree are bronze leaves with the individual names of those who have died in the line of duty.  The oak leaf has historically been accepted as a symbol of strength, valor and solid character.  All are common characteristics of these honored men and women.  

In 2011, the Pennsylvania EMS Provider Foundation (Foundation) held the first annual EMS Memorial Service to honor Pennsylvania's brothers and sisters.  The name of each honoree is read followed by the ringing of the bell every year.  The honorees date back as far as the National EMS Memorial Service records have provided and are not limited to the current year.

The Foundation will host an Annual EMS Memorial Service at the Capitol building on September 10, 11, or 12, whichever date fall on the Monday following the PA EMS Memorial Bike Ride.

We honor the following Pennsylvania EMS providers who have lost their life in the line of duty and service to the residents of this Commonwealth.

  • Samantha Agins, Camp Jaycee, Stroudsburg
  • Ethan Amsbaugh, Priority Volunteer Response Ambulance, Mt. Union
  • Robert Ashby, Christiana Ambulance, Gap
  • Brenda Bauer, City of Reading Fire, Reading
  • Andrew Beck, Kecksburg VFW Rescue Squad, Kecksburg
  • Brad Blackman, American Medical Response, Philadelphia *
  • David J. Blausen, Wilkins-Churchill Rescue One, Wilkins
  • Walter L. Bricker, Metal Township Fire & Ambulance Co, Fannettsburg
  • John Buchner, City of Scranton FD Ambulance, Scranton
  • Gilbert Buerk, St. Mary's Ambulance Service, St. Marys
  • Kevin Bundy, Mercy Fitzgerald EMS, Darby *
  • Jeanette M. Christ, University Medevac/Lehigh Valley Hosp, Allentown
  • Kelly A. Conti, Critical Care Diversified Enterprises, West Mifflin
  • John Demkosky, Lackawanna Ambulance Service, Scranton
  • Kline DeWire, Susquehanna Health System EMS Department, Williamsport
  • Bruce H. Ditlow, St Joseph Hospital, Lancaster
  • Theodore Dybus, Veterans Ambulance Service, Northern Cambria
  • Douglas Dzubinski, UPMC Pinnacle Health, Community Life Team, York *
  • Kevin A. Ellefson, Medic Rescue Ambulance Service, Beaver Falls
  • Jeremy Emerich, Lehigh Valley MedEvac *
  • Thomas Evans, Newtown Ambulance Squad and Warrington Community Ambulance
  • Donald J. Felker, Collingdale Fire Company No 1, Collingdale
  • Dale C. Francis, Lifestar Ambulance Corps, Quakertown
  • William Fraser, Mountaintop Ambulance, Mountaintop
  • Michael “Boz” Garvin, Second Alarmers Association and Rescue Squad, Willow Grove
  • Gregory S. Gelsinger, TowerDIRECT, Wyomissing *
  • John M. Goodwin, Guthrie One Helicopter, Sayre
  • Thomas Gruen, Tunkhannock Community Ambulance Association, Tunkhannock
  • Richard A. Hartley, Derry Township Fire Police, Lewistown
  • Mark W. Haussler, Guthrie One Helicopter, Sayre
  • Ed Hayes, Cottage Rescue & EMS, Carbondale
  • Thomas Hicks, Citizens Volunteer Fire Company, York
  • Wesley Hostetter, Lack Tuscarora EMS, East Waterford
  • Robert W. Justis, St. Luke's Transport Service, Tannersville
  • Daniel E. Keller, Fayette EMS, Connellsville
  • Robert Kohler, Sr. Northeastern Area EMS, York
  • Shawn M. Kramer, Hamburg Ambulance Service, West Lawn/Hamburg
  • James S. Landis, University Medevac/Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown
  • John F. Legieko, Parkesburg Ambulance/Fire Co, Parkesburg
  • Michael Lessar, Royersford Fire Department/Friendship Ambulance, Royersford *

  • Janice Keen-Livingston, West End Ambulance, Johnstown

  • Kevin Maffettone, Bucks County 2012 Morrisville, Levittown

  • Fred Manno, North Huntingdon EMS/Rescue, Greensburg

  • Nelson Martin, Bethel Ambulance, Bethel
  • Herbert W. McCay, American Medical Response, Philadelphia
  • Daniel W. McIntosh, Bensalem EMS, Bensalem
  • Albert J. Miles, Upper Perkiomen Valley Ambulance, Pennsburg
  • Johnathian “John” Richard Myers, East Pennsboro Ambulance, Enola*
  • Harry R. Moore, City of Duquesne EMS, Duquesne
  • Paul Moyer, Yoe Ambulance, York
  • Michael R. Murphy, PennSTAR, Philadelphia
  • Barry John Nagle, Silver Spring Ambulance and Rescue, New Kingston
  • Deborah J. Nole, Guthrie One Helicopter, Sayre
  • Larry Oberle, Alpha Fire Company Community Ambulance, State College
  • Ken Prunty, Tri Community Ambulance, Monogahela
  • Elwood C. Queen, Sr, Irvona Volunteer Ambulance Service, Irvona
  • Robert Reeder, Crozer-Keystone EMS, Upland
  • Patricia A. Riccobono, Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown
  • David Sauder, Leola Ambulance Association, Leola
  • Heinz Schulz, Emergycare/LifeStar of Erie, Erie
  • William J. Sekora, Jr., Jeannette EMS, Jeannette *
  • Richard Shoaf, Jr., Swarthmore Fire & Protection Assn, Swarthmore
  • Matthew C. Smelser, Rostraver West Newton Emergency Medical Services, Belle Vernon
  • Edward E. Soper, H.O.P.S. Ambulance, Le Raysville
  • William R. Spence, CJ Systems Aviation Group, West Mifflin
  • Ethel M. Speros, Willow Street Ambulance Assn, Willow St
  • Richard J. Stark, Thornhurst Vol Fire/Res Ambu Sq, Thornhurst
  • Daniel Sweeney, Philadelphia Fire Department, Philadelphia
  • Brian TaraBori, UPMC Wellsboro, Wellsboro *
  • Nicholas A. Theofilis, Penn Hill EMS, Penn Hills
  • Joseph M. Vagnier, Monroeville Fire Dept, Monroeville
  • Robert Vetter, Mon Valley EMS, Monessen
  • John M. Watson, Moscow Volunteer Fire Department/Hose Co Ambulance, Moscow
  • Kevin L. Weatherlow, St Joseph Hospital, Lancaster
  • Craig Webb, University EMS, Dauphin
  • Gregory Wentzel, First Aid & Safety Patrol, Lebanon
  • David A. Womer, Mt. Carmel Area Rescue Squad, Mt Carmel
  • Robert H. Wood, Montrose Minute Men, Montrose
  • David Young, Central Juniata EMS, Juniata
  • Robert (Bob) E. Zerman, Pioneer Hose Co. #1, Robesonia *
  • Doug Zima, Northwest EMS, Elizabethtown

The Foundation would like to include all the names of providers.  If you do not see the name of someone who should be on the list, please send an email to doug.garretson@gmail.com and include either a news article or as much information as possible about the individual.

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