(Riverton, WY) – Dozens of EMS workers and community members gathered Thursday morning on the south lawn of Central Wyoming College to pay tribute to emergency medical services professionals who died in the line of duty.
The Guardian Flight-hosted event was one stop in the National EMS Memorial Service’s Moving Honors procession, a roughly 9,000-mile journey that began June 1 in Redding, CA, and concludes in Arlington, VA, in July. This year’s procession honors 37 EMS professionals who died in the line of duty.
Local EMS worker Diane Lane reads names of fallen EMS workers from around the United States Friday morning at Central Wyoming College. h/t Carl Cote EMS workers and civilians showed up to the front lawn at Central Wyoming College to pay their respects to fallen EMS workers. Guardian is touring from the west coast to the east coast stopping along the way to pay respects to EMS workers who have died in the line of duty. h/t Carl Cote Local EMS workers gather to pay their respects to the fallen Friday morning. h/t Carl Cote The Lander Pipe Band played music for fallen EMS workers Friday morning in Riverton. h/t Carl Cote 
State senator Tim Salazar leads the ceremony in the Pledge of Allegiance Friday in Riverton. h/t Carl Cote
A motorcade of around 20 local EMS vehicles arrived at the college, circling the front drive before parking as workers stepped out to gather for the ceremony. Attendees listened to speeches, prayers, and music from the Lander Pipe Band, which performed before and after a reading of the names of the fallen. A replica Tree of Life, a memorial structure bearing the names of those lost, was on display, while the original, built by EMS volunteers, travels sealed inside a specially wrapped ambulance until its unveiling at the national service in Arlington.
Paramedic Megan Haverkamp, crew chief for the Moving Honors procession and now in her seventh year with the effort, said one of the most common fears she hears from families is that their loved ones will be forgotten.
EMS crew chief Megan Havercamp spoke about the bravery EMS workers possess and honored the fallen during a speech Friday morning in Riverton. h/t Carl Cote Wayne Arthur , right, gave a prayer at the beginning of the cremony. h/t Carl Cote Helicopters landed in the south lawn in front of Central Wyoing College as part of the ceremony to remember fallen EMS workers Friday. h/t Carl Cote The Central Wyoming Regional Airport firetruck pulls around the circle at Central Wyoming college as one of the EMS vehicles in the ceremony. h/t Carl Cote
“With the help of the Moving Honors and the National EMS Memorial Service, we’re here to tell you those loved ones will never be forgotten,” Haverkamp said. “They are our true heroes. They went on someone’s worst day, and unfortunately, they didn’t get to come home.”
Haverkamp also travels with Chief Teddy Bear, a stuffed animal given to children who lost a parent or family member in the line of duty. Attendees were invited to write notes to the families of the fallen, which will be displayed at the Weekend of Honor ceremony in Arlington. Haverkamp said family members often spend hours reading through them.
