National EMS Memorial Service 2024 Wrap Up and Announcement of Weekend of Honor Dates Through 2026

Source: National EMS Memorial Service

Arlington, VA (August 14, 2024) – The National EMS Memorial Service (NEMSMS) and the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride (NEMSMBR) announced the dates for the next two years for the Weekend of Honor. The dates will be as follows: 2025 - July 18-20, and 2026 – July 17-19. All the events will continue to be held in Arlington, VA at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City.

A wrap up of the 2024 National EMS Memorial Service and Weekend of Honor was also provided and is found below.

On July 19-21, the National EMS Memorial Service (NEMSMS) and the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride (NEMSMBR) paid tribute to the 36 fallen EMS and air medical providers from 18 different states during the 2024 National EMS Weekend of Honor at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, VA.

This year, the Moving Honors specially marked ambulance carrying the 2024 temporary National EMS Memorial, known as the Tree of Life, began its journey in Seattle, WA on July 5. It made various stops over 15 days through at least 18 states as it progressed to Arlington, VA. The Moving Honors procession allowed those who could not make the trip to Arlington the opportunity to see the replica of the 2024 Tree of Life.

Early Friday morning, July 19, the National EMS Memorial Service (NEMSMS) Honor Guard traveled to Arlington National Cemetery to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. Four NEMSMS Honor Guard members, Hailey Slade, Shawn Stoermann, Debbie Cardozo, and Joe Rosamilia, had been handpicked for this ceremony because of their continued commitment and passion to the mission of honoring those who sacrificed their lives in the service of others.

Then later in the afternoon, 87 participants in the special Ride of Honor hosted by the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride, arrived at Hyatt escorting the Moving Honors to kick off the National Weekend of Honor. The NEMSMBR celebrated the lives of EMS and air medical providers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service to others. Riders were predominantly EMS professionals from across the U.S.  Each of the riders carried dog tags bearing an honoree’s name, agency, and date of their loss.

After arriving at the hotel, a short ceremony was held and the 2024 Tree of Life with the names of the 36 honorees was unveiled. “The Weekend of Honor just isn’t just about recognizing the EMS and air medical professionals who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, it is also about recognizing the dedication that those same individuals had towards their families, co-workers and friends and that their sacrifices will always be remembered”, said NEMSMBR president Lars Granholm. Following the ceremony, the riders met with the families to present one of their two dog tags worn during the ride – an emotionally powerful part of the Weekend of Honor. The riders will keep the remaining dog tag as a lifetime reminder of the honoree’s sacrifice.

The next day, the National EMS Memorial Service, a formal ceremony to honor the EMS professionals and air medical providers who died in the line of duty in 2023 was held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City ballroom. The Service was attended by over 700 EMS personnel from across the country who traveled at their own expense to participate in the NEMSMS, along with families, friends, co-workers of current and past honorees, volunteers, dignitaries, EMS and business leaders, and government officials. There were 128 honor guard and pipe and drum personnel, therapy and comfort dog groups and a host of other volunteers who gave of their time and services throughout the weekend in support of the families, loved ones and friends of the honorees.

The temporary National EMS Memorial “Tree of Life” was displayed through the Service on Saturday. It holds bronze oak leaves, engraved with the names of fallen honorees for each year going back as far as 1895. In November 2018, Public Law 15-275 was signed into law by the President to enable the National EMS Memorial Foundation (NEMSMF) to build a permanent EMS memorial in the nation’s capital. They are currently in the Federal approval process to finalize the memorial site and development will then quickly follow.

“On behalf of the board, I want to thank the hundreds of volunteers and sponsors who made the National EMS Service, the Weekend of Honor, and the Moving Honors tribute a reality,” said NEMSMS president Scott Davis. “We are incredibly grateful to the countless organizations and individuals who made it all possible. The most humbling and powerful feedback came from the families of the honorees, reinforcing that the weekend had a positive effect on their healing. They walked away knowing they are not alone, that the sacrifice of their loved ones will always be remembered.”

The Weekend of Honor is organized and hosted by the following volunteer-staffed organizations: National EMS Memorial Bike Ride and the National EMS Memorial Service. The organizations would like to thank the many volunteers, participants, donors, and sponsors who once again helped make this year’s National Weekend of Honor a special remembrance celebration of those who have given so much in the service to others.