By Bill Carey
EMS1
WASHINGTON — The National EMS Memorial Service and the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride will pay tribute to 59 fallen EMS and air medical responders this year in Arlington, Virginia, during the 2023 National EMS Weekend of Honor.
The honorees from 22 states will be recognized in ceremonies scheduled from July 21 to 23. The National EMS Memorial Service’s specially marked ambulance is carrying this year’s installment of the temporary National EMS Memorial, known as the Tree of Life, which will be unveiled at the Weekend of Honor.
The National EMS Memorial Bike Ride’s special Ride of Honor will meet the Moving Honors just outside of Arlington. Each rider will meet the family of the fallen in front of the honoree’s biography to present one of their two tags worn during the ride. The rider will keep one tag as a lifetime reminder of the honoree’s sacrifice.
This year’s procession began in Riverside, California, on June 22. It made various stops over 28 days through at least 25 states.
Joining the Weekend of Honor will be various therapy and comfort dogs onsite to support families and attendees as well as specially trained grief support groups.