Boston EMTs and Paramedics to Bike 900 Miles in Honor of Fallen Colleagues

Boston, Massachusetts - On May 18th, paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) of Boston's Emergency Medical Services will embark on the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride, a 900-mile journey that will honor the memory of EMS professionals who have died in the line of duty.

Each Memorial Day since 1993, fallen EMS professionals have been recognized in a service at the National EMS Memorial in Roanoke, Virginia. The names of EMS professionals who sacrificed their lives during the preceding year are permanently affixed to the memorial, and surviving family members are presented with three items: a medallion, symbolizing eternal memory; an American flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol, representing national service; and a white rose, the traditional symbol of undying love. EMS helicopters fly in formation over the site, and for one minute during the service, more than 600 public safety agencies throughout the country maintain radio silence. So far, 184 EMS workers have been honored in his manner. Another 31 EMS professionals will be honored in the 2001 ceremony on May
26th.

This year, EMS professionals from the city of Boston will raise public awareness of the National EMS Memorial by riding to Roanoke by bicycle. The ride was conceived by Jamie Orsino, who has twice participated in similar
rides to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. Orsino came up with the idea after a chance encounter with the daughter of a slain police officer.

"A little girl flagged me down on my bike during one of those rides," Orsino
recalls. "She asked me if I was one of those guys riding to Washington. I said that I was, and she told me that her mother was in Washington. It turned out that the girl's mother was a police officer who had died in the line of duty. She knew that her mother's name was on the Law Enforcement Memorial. The idea behind this ride is to increase the visibility of the EMS Memorial, because unlike the Law Enforcement Memorial, hardly anybody knows that it exists. I want the children of fallen EMTs and paramedics to know that they are part of a supportive community, just like that little girl did."

The EMTs and paramedics will depart from the State House at 8:00 a.m., and will ride between 100 and 120 miles per day for seven consecutive days. State and Boston Police motorcycle escorts will lead them to the Rhode Island border, and riders from other EMS agencies and commercial ambulance
companies will join them during select segments along the way. Children of the riders have been invited to ride their bicycles alongside the team for the first half-mile of the trip. The riders will pause on May 20th for a
special reception at the Battalion 39 EMS station in New York City, which has lost three of its EMTs in recent years. A similar reception is planned for the team's May 25th arrival in Roanoke.

Ride expenses were raised at a charity event and auction sponsored by the Comedy Connection at Faneuil Hall. Additional funding was provided by the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, EMS Division. Excess proceeds will be presented to the EMS Memorial Board of Directors, for use in a future relocation project. The riders and support staff will utilize personal time to participate.

RIDERS: Paramedic Roger Aiello, EMT Fred Lorenz, EMT Eric McDevitt, Dr. Bryan
McNally, EMT Jamie Orsino, Paramedic Jay Weaver.

SUPPORT CREW: EMT Rob Locke, EMT Paul O'Brien, Paramedic Gary Saffer,
Paramedic Michael Sullivan.

Contact: Jay Weaver
Voice: (617) 269-3897
Page: (617) 465-5954
E-Mail: BHH149@aol.com

Website for the Boston, MA to Roanoke, VA EMS Memorial
Bike Ride.  http://bikeride.nemsms.org/ride.shtml

You will be able to follow the daily progress of the riders and see some pictures at this site.


ITINERARY:

Friday, May 18.
Depart Boston at 8:00 a.m. Ride to Newport, RI. Ferry to Greenport, NY.

Saturday, May 19.
Greenport, NY to Hempstead, NY.

Sunday, May 20.
Hempstead, NY to New York City, NY. Reception at Battalion 39. Police
escort through New York City. Continue to Hillsboro, NJ.

Monday, May 21.
Hillsboro, NJ to Philadelphia, PA. Police escort into Philadelphia.

Tuesday, May 22.
Philadelphia, PA to Baltimore, MD. Maryland State Police escort into Baltimore.

Wednesday, May 23.
Baltimore, MD to Front Royal, MD.

Thursday, May 24.
Front Royal, VA to Staunton, VA.

Friday, May 25.
Staunton, VA to Roanoke, VA. Police escort into Roanoke. Reception in Roanoke.

Saturday, May 26.
National EMS Memorial Service, 7:00 p.m. National Moment of Silence, 8:00
p.m. 

Sunday, May 27.
Surviving Families' Breakfast. Return to Boston.