Tenth Annual National EMS Memorial Service May 25, 2002
Designed by:  H. Gene Knight	Designed by:  Phil Bagby Signs

My husband Neal, was among 26 men and women who were killed in the line of duty to be honored at the 10th Annual National EMS Memorial Service.  The service, held in Roanoke, Virginia, is a very touching service that I was both saddened and honored to be a part of.

We made the trip down to Roanoke on Friday, and arrived in time to see the EMS Bike Riders arrive.   There were 70 riders, from 16 organizations, in eight states that participated in the 900 mile ride from Boston to Roanoke.  To read about their journey, please look at the diary of the ride.  It was truly remarkable to see the dedicated men and women arrive and there was not one dry eye in our family.

We really didn't do much Friday night, Ashleigh was still sick, so we just rested at our hotel.  Saturday was going to be a very long and emotional day, and after the trip down, we were pretty tired.

Saturday morning came and we went to see the Line of Honor Procession.  It was a 5 mile procession of the EMS Bike Riders, and at least 50 pieces of apparatus, that went from the Hotel Roanoke to the "To The Rescue" Museum, which is located at Tanglewood Mall.  I must say, as I watched all of the apparatus come down the road, tears too came down my face.  It reminded me much of Neal's funeral, and at times, was just too hard to stay focused on. 

We made our way back to the Hotel Roanoke, because Ashleigh's Godfather and Neal's best friend, Gus, along with Charlie and Ed (two amazingly wonderful people from Neal's fire department) were set to arrive soon. 

We were set for our tour of the "To The Rescue" Museum, so Gus, Charlie, and Ed came with us.  I wasn't quite prepared for what I was going to see there, but I knew I had my family with me to keep me strong. 

The museum holds an amazing display to the history of EMS and Rescue.  Information that even Neal wouldn't have known!  As we made our way to the "Tree of Life," I could feel my heartbeat getting stronger and stronger... and then I saw it.  What an amazingly breathtaking sight.  It had 252 oak leaves on it, including 26 from this year, all engraved with the name and agency of someone who was killed in the line of duty.  It was so painful to see Neal's oak leaf, but then I remembered that this is a memorial that I will be able to bring Ashleigh to when she gets older so she can share in remembering her father.

(Another picture will be added)

The Sherman Family Photo

NEMSMS Page 2

Ashleigh's Homepage

The Sherman Family
© 2003
No pictures to be reused without consent