Riding to Remember

   It was a warm, beautiful day as I pulled into the parking lot at the Paradise Motor Inn in Bennington, VT, one of the starting points for this year's National EMS Memorial Bike ride. Twelve of us started out from this quaint New England village, while the majority of the riders began the journey from South Portland, ME. We met up later that day (104 miles later) in Milford, NH, and joined together for a presentation from Sue Prentiss of the New Hampshire State Bureau of EMS.

   The heart of this ride is celebrating those providers who lost their lives in the line of duty and made a lasting impact on their colleagues, communities and regions. From the dog tags each rider wears in memory to the ceremonies and prayers given throughout the ride, it is a consistent reminder that what you do day in and day out in your own community makes a difference. And with that sense at the heart, along with the camaraderie with other riders and support from people and providers you meet from town to town, this is an event that people come back to year after year. Come experience it for yourself by going to muddyangels.org for more information.