PRINTER'S NO. 4337
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
990
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY BARRAR, SAINATO, BIZZARRO, BOBACK, BROOKS, BROWN,
BURNS, CAUSER, COX, SCHLEGEL CULVER, DAVANZO, DEASY, DELLOSO,
DRISCOLL, GALLOWAY, HICKERNELL, HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN,
HOWARD, ISAACSON, KINSEY, KNOWLES, KORTZ, KULIK, LONGIETTI,
MARSHALL, McNEILL, MENTZER, MILLARD, MURT, PICKETT,
POLINCHOCK, READSHAW, RYAN, SAPPEY, SCHLOSSBERG, SONNEY,
STRUZZI, THOMAS, TOEPEL AND ULLMAN, SEPTEMBER 2, 2020
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
SEPTEMBER 2, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Designating September 14, 2020, as "EMS Memorial Day" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, In 1998, the United States Congress designated the
National EMS Memorial Service be held annually, as the official
EMS Memorial Service in the United States; and
WHEREAS, The objective of the EMS Memorial Service is to
remember and honor those emergency medical services personnel
who have died in the line of duty and to recognize the ultimate
sacrifice they have made for their fellow man; and
WHEREAS, The traveling memorial of the National EMS Memorial
Service, the Tree of Life, is erected every year; and
WHEREAS, The Tree of Life bears a representation of an oak
tree to symbolize strength along with the name, agency and date
of loss of each National EMS Memorial Service honoree engraved
on a bronze oak leaf; and
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WHEREAS, Since 2011, the Pennsylvania EMS Provider Foundation
has organized an EMS Memorial Service at the State Capitol to
remember Pennsylvania EMS providers that have given their lives
in the line of duty; and
WHEREAS, During the Memorial Service at the Capitol, the name
of each honoree is read followed by the ringing of the bell; and
WHEREAS, Since 2013, the following EMS personnel have been
honored for making the ultimate sacrifice during the performance
of emergency service duties:
(1) Samantha Agins, Camp Jaycee, Stroudsburg.
(2) Ethan Lynn Amsbaugh, Priority Volunteer Response
Ambulance, Mt. Union.
(3) Robert Ashby, Sr., Christiana Community Ambulance,
Gap.
(4) Brenda Bauer, City of Reading Fire, Reading.
(5) David J. Blausen, Wilkins-Churchill Rescue One,
Wilkins.
(6) Walter L. Bricker, Metal Township Fire & Ambulance
Co, Fannettsburg.
(7) John Buchner, Scranton Fire Department Ambulance,
Scranton.
(8) Jeanette M. Christ, University Medevac/Lehigh Valley
Hospital, Allentown.
(9) Kelly A. Conti, Critical Care Diversified
Enterprises, West Mifflin.
(10) John R. Demkosky, Lackawanna Ambulance Service,
Scranton.
(11) Kline DeWire, Susquehanna Health System EMS,
Williamsport.
(12) Bruce H. Ditlow, St Joseph Hospital, Lancaster.
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(13) Theodore Dybus, Veterans Memorial Ambulance
Service, Northern Cambria.
(14) Kevin A. Ellefson, Medic Rescue Ambulance Service,
Beaver Falls.
(15) Donald J. Felker, Collingdale Fire Company No 1,
Collingdale.
(16) Dale C. Francis, Lifestar Ambulance Corps,
Quakertown.
(17) Michael "Boz" Garvin, Second Alarmers Association
and Rescue Squad, Willow Grove.
(18) John M. Goodwin, Guthrie One Helicopter, Sayre.
(19) Thomas Gruen, Tunkhannock Ambulance Association,
Tunkhannock.
(20) Richard A. Hartley, Derry Township Fire Police,
Lewistown.
(21) Mark W. Haussler, Guthrie One Helicopter, Sayre.
(22) Herbert W. McCay, American Medical Response,
Philadelphia.
(23) Thomas Hicks, Citizens Volunteer Fire Company,
York.
(24) Wesley Hostetter, Lack Tuscarora EMS, East
Waterford.
(25) Robert W. Justis, St. Luke's Transport Service,
Tannersville.
(26) Daniel E. Keller, Fayette EMS, Connellsville.
(27) Robert Kohler, Sr. Northeastern Area EMS, York.
(28) Shawn M. Kramer, Hamburg Ambulance Service, West
Lawn/Hamburg.
(29) Robert. W. Justis, St. Luke's Transport Service,
Tannersville
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(30) James S. Landis, University Medevac/Lehigh Valley
Hospital, Allentown.
(31) John F. Legieko, Parkesburg Ambulance/Fire Co,
Parkesburg.
(32) Janice M. Keen-Livingston, West End Ambulance
Service, Johnstown.
(33) Kevin Maffettone, Bucks County 2012 Morrisville,
Levittown.
(34) Herbert W. McCay, American Medical Response,
Philadelphia.
(35) Daniel W. McIntosh, Bensalem EMS, Bensalem.
(36) Harry R. Moore, Duquesne EMS, Duquesne.
(37) Paul Moyer, Yoe Ambulance, York.
(38) Michael R. Murphy, PennSTAR, Philadelphia.
(39) Barry John Nagle, Silver Spring Ambulance and
Rescue, New Kingstown.
(40) Deborah J. Nole, Guthrie One Helicopter, Sayre.
(41) Larry Oberle, Alpha Fire Company Community
Ambulance, State College.
(42) Kenneth Duane Prunty, Tri Community Ambulance,
Monogahela.
(43) Elwood C. Queen Sr., Irvona Volunteer Ambulance
Service, Irvona.
(44) Robert Reeder, Crozer-Keystone EMS, Upland.
(45) Patricia A. Riccobono, Lehigh Valley Hospital,
Allentown.
(46) David A. Sauder, Leola Ambulance Association,
Leola.
(47) Heinz Schulz, Emergycare/LifeStar of Erie, Erie.
(48) Richard Shoaf, Jr., Swarthmore Fire & Protection
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Assn, Swarthmore.
(49) Matthew C. Smelser, Rostraver-West Newton Emergency
Medical Services, Belle Vernon.
(50) Edward E. Soper, H.O.P.S. Ambulance, Le Raysville.
(51) William R. Spence, CJ Systems Aviation Group, West
Mifflin.
(52) Ethel M. Speros, Willow Street Ambulance
Association, Willow Street.
(53) Richard J. Stark, Thornhurst Volunteer Fire/Rescue
Ambulance Squad, Thornhurst.
(54) Daniel Sweeney, Philadelphia Fire Department,
Philadelphia.
(55) Joseph M. Vagnier, Monroeville Fire Dept,
Monroeville.
(56) Robert Vetter, Mon Valley EMS, Monessen.
(57) John M. Watson, Moscow Volunteer Fire
Department/Hose Co Ambulance, Moscow.
(58) Kevin L. Weatherlow, St Joseph Hospital, Lancaster.
(59) Craig Webb, University EMS, Dauphin.
(60) Gregory Wentzel, First Aid & Safety Patrol
Emergency Medical Services Agency, Lebanon.
(61) David A. Womer, Mount Carmel Area Rescue Squad,
Mount Carmel.
(62) Robert H. Wood, Montrose Minute Men, Montrose.
(63) David Young, Central Juniata EMS, Juniata;
and
WHEREAS, Since 2016, prior to the Memorial Service, the
Pennsylvania EMS Provider Foundation holds a cycling event which
ends at the Capitol; and
WHEREAS, On January 5, 2020, Rostraver West Newton Emergency
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Services Paramedic Supervisor, Matthew C. Smelser, was struck
and killed by a vehicle after he exited his ambulance to attend
to an accident victim along Interstate 70 in South Huntingdon;
and
WHEREAS, On February 1, 2020, Paramedic Theodore Dybus, of
the Veterans Ambulance Service in Northern Cambria, tragically
suffered a medical emergency while on duty and passed away; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives greatly appreciates the
critical role that EMS plays, providing emergency response and
serving as the front line delivery of health care, while under
extraordinarily adverse situations, and often with little to no
pay; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
September 14, 2020, as "EMS Memorial Day" in Pennsylvania.
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