Several weeks ago I was invited to participate in an EMS, Emergency Medical Service event to be held at the the Capital Building in Harrisburg PA sponsored by the Ambulance Association of Pennyslvania. I was asked to be at the memorial service to offer an invocation before their program. Part of that program was to remember those who died on 9/11 as well as those members who died in the line of duty or other deaths in the last year. As I approached the location where the shuttle was to take us from there to the capital building, I got some chills and memories flooding back.
I was dressed in my collar and professional garb. I was escorted into their offices and saw a huge board with who was on duty etc. The memories of laughter, coffee, the often long wait between calls and the busyness of the multiple call day all came back. Then the patients, the tough calls and my partners, my colleagues. Wow! Funny how for so long, I have been out of EMS/Paramedicine since 1996, that your mind doesn't necessarily close off those memories, but kind of packs them away.
As I was looking at the whiteboard with all that information I saw a name or should I saw the last name of someone who was not only supervisor but someone I had come to know as a brother in EMS. In fact I got a chance to see him and chat before the event started. I often said I would stay in EMS at least 20 years. Made it to 16 years before God had other plans for me. I saw several other folks before had who either I knew or knew someone I knew from my early days, or I guess the phrase now is "back in the day."
When we got to the part where names were read and a bell rang out for each person who had died, the emotions of who these people were came back. I told the group gathered it was "good to be with my brothers and sisters in EMS." I may not be practicing but I still am a "member" of this group. I felt that connection again to this group of people who lay their lives on the line every day.
After the brief service, a guy came up to me and said my name and threw his arms around me. I joked at the dinner with a larger EMS group, I was wondering who the hell this guy was? Sorry Jim! I finally remembered him and he and I went to paramedic school together so long ago. Wow the years had been long but it was in that brief moment when we were reminiscing about a call I had by myself, that the years disappeared and we were right back there. We shared about a call I was on when I taught the family CPR as we were waiting for a BLS unit for a LONG time. We laughed and chatted and remembered. I was hoping he would be at the dinner later but he had to heard back. Then I met another person from Middletown who knew me Kevin. Stay in touch Kevin!  Wow! Another person knew some of the people I worked with so long ago at Polyclinic Medic 5. And I do owe Bruce donuts because of a tv spot they saw me on. Small price to pay to see friends again. Although not good for the waistline.
Then at dinner that evening, I met a young man who started running EMS in the Hazelton area who knew people in the area I started off in EMS. As the program at the dinner awarded Stars of Life to many people from around the state for their dedication to their EMS path, I was struck by how much things have not changed.  First was the dedication of these men and women, just as it was when I ran  EMS. Second what did change was that I realized that I can't go back to running EMS again. I know my limitations and between doing what I do now and trying to gain continuing education for EMS and all the other requirements, I just can't do it anymore. Which was part of the reason I 1) got out and 2) God found me another way to help save people. I did realize what I can do: I can support them with spiritual guidance and counsel when they need it. I hope to do that not only in my capacity as a pastor, but through the critical incident stress debriefing training I have taken recently.
Friends, we take these folks for granted each and every day. We call 911 an expect them to be there as fast as our cheeseburger at McDonald's. In the ceremony yesterday, one of the speakers mentioned that in the short time he was speaking, less than 5 minutes, statistics showed that in that time, 45 EMS calls were initiated. Whether it be police, fire, EMS, please take the extra time to say "Thank You." Just as those in the Body of Christ are my brothers and sisters, these first responders are my brothers and sisters too. They may be a smaller group of Christ's Body but part of it none the less. When we remember together we re-member the Body. Whether be from EMS days or should that be daze, to being together in our faith and re-membering the  Body of Christ, we are brothers and sisters together. These folks work had to train, learn the latest techniques in order to serve us better in our communities. if you have ever had to use EMS system, please take time to find out who helped you and say thank you. You may have been one of a dozen or more patients that week, whether by card, letter or in person, it means more than you know to them. Take it from someone who has met former patients who were grateful for what we did. Let them know it! PS if you get a chance to visit Colorado Springs, be sure to visit the National EMS Memorial. Here's there website: http://www.nemsms.org/