15/May/2016 – EMS Memorial Ceremony

Twenty Two Paramedics and EMT’s names were added to the State EMS Memorial in a ceremony held at the site near St. Mathews in Calhoun County Sunday afternoon 15-May. The event is coordinated throughout the year, but highlights a bike ride beginning in Beaufort where a rider for each name makes the three day trek thorough the Lowcountry. Fire and EMS units from each county escort the bike riders safely through their jurisdictions, providing rest stops along the route. A support team also accompanies the riders on their journey. The riders rode through Colleton County on Friday and were escorted along ACE Basin Parkway into Charleston County by Engine 6 and Medic 6. They again passed through Colleton County on Saturday following Cottageville Hwy to stop at Colleton Medical Center for lunch, which was provided by LifeNet. After the break they continues on Bells Hwy to Lowcountry Hwy into Bamberg County. Battalion 1 escorted the group along with Medic 9, Medic 18, Medic 19 and Medic 26 through their respective response areas. The riders ended the journey at the Calhoun County EMS Headquarters at the Memorial Site Sunday afternoon at 14:00.

The ceremony was well attended with a large crowd of personnel and family members. The Horry County Fire-Rescue Honor Guard and Bag Pipes opened the ceremony followed by Sebrina Faircloth and Key Note Speaker, SCDHEC EMS Bureau Chief Rob Wronski. Each name was read and the rider representing the member met with a family member to lay a brick along the sidewalk at the memorial. The brick contained the name of the deceased personnel. The family members were presented with dog tags the rider worn and a plague. Colleton County had two members added to the memorial. Retired Firefighter-Paramedic Elaine Harvey who served several decades in Colleton County and former EMS Director Mike Garvin, who was employed by the EMS Department before those duties were assigned to Fire-Rescue. Harvey’s daughter Trisha Simmons and her husband Ed placed Elaine’s brick along the walkway, while Chief McRoy placed Mike Garvin’s brick. Firefighter-Paramedic Janet Laney, Firefighter-EMT Jeff Laney and Battalion Chief Scott Feather were also present.