ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, May 25, 1996 TAG: 9605280031
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRISTOPHER L. BOYD STAFF WRITER
More than 68 years after the volunteer rescue service was founded in Roanoke, its leaders are returning for today's(saturday) National EMS Memorial Service.
Roanoke's Julian Stanley Wise is credited with starting the nation's first all-volunteer rescue squad in 1928.It's only fitting that today's service honoring fallen volunteer rescuers would be held in Roanoke.
Julian Stanley Wise is credited with starting the nation's first all-volunteer rescue squad here in 1928.
The service honors 33 EMS providers from 15 states who gave their lives during emergencies in their communities. Seven were Virginia residents, three were from the Lynchburg area. The event is part of the national observance of EMS week and National Rescue Week.
The memorial service is the culmination of the week's activities, said Kevin Dillard of Fredericksburg, chairman of the national EMS memorial service committee. About 700 people, including volunteer rescuers from around the country and their families, are expected to be recognized and pay tribute to the 33 volunteers who sacrificed their lives.
In their memory, a brass leaf has been engraved for each with their name and date of death. The leaf will be placed on the "Tree of Life" which will be permanently displayed in the To the Rescue Museum, located at Tanglewood Mall in Roanoke County.
"The Tree of Life resembles an oak tree," said Dillard. "We picked this tree because it is immortal. Just like the Oak Tree, we want the memory of these men and women to live for all time."
One of the Lynchburg rescuers being honored is Carter Martin, a member of the Brookville-Timberlake Volunteer Fire Department. Martin died last year while trying to save others when floodwaters caused the collapse of the Timberlake Dam near Lynchburg.
The memorial service begins at 7 p.m. at Greene Memorial United Methodist Church in downtown Roanoke.
Also in recognition of EMS week, Dillard said rescuers from across the state kicked off the week with a "camperee" in Buena Vista. This gave the group an opportunity to camp out, relax and enjoy each others' company while listening to a live band.
"A lot of times rescuers get caught up with their work and training, along with other day-to-day activities, and they don't get a chance to relax, Dillard said.
Sandra Nichols, vice president of the Roanoke Valley Association of Rescue Squads, said the area's volunteer program is sponsoring Emergency Medical Services Day at Tanglewood Mall. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, they will have emergency equipment on hand and also show off their new state-of-the-art ambulance. The new ambulance will make the rescue team a mobile emergency room with modern equipment, compared to the one cot and first aid kit offered on its old ambulance.
Other area rescue teams at the event include the Scruggs Dive Team, Botetourt Mounted Search and Rescue, Life Line and Carillon Transportation, the League of Older Americans, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Students Against Drunk Driving, and Life Guard 10.
"We want people to become aware that there are different facets of emergency medicine. It is not just the ambulance that responds to 911 calls. Hopefully we can also get people thinking about preventive measures they can do themselves so they won't have to dial 911," said Nichols.
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