2011 National EMS Memorial Bike Ride Underway

The 2011 National EMS Memorial Bike Ride began May 14 on a cold, gray day in Boston, MA, with 85 riders from several states and Canada.

The opening ceremonies included representatives from Boston EMS and emotional comments from the family of Jonathan Lindsey, an EMT from Waltham, MA, who was killed in the line of duty in November 2010.

The "Muddy Angels" were warmly received during rest stops in Stoughton, MA, Raynham, MA, and Pawtucket, RI, and finished the 66 mile day 1 trek with dinner courtesy of the Rhode Island DMAT in South Kingston, RI.

Day 2 of the ride began under gloomy conditions in Rhode Island with the "Muddy Angels" continuing their EMS Week-long trek to Alexandria, VA. Some members of the group wore jerseys bearing the logo of EMS World's EMS Squadcast podcast.

Throughout the day, the riders made their way from Rhode Island to Long Island, NY, with stops in Charlestown, RI, and Mystic, CT, where a ceremony was held to commemorate public safety officer's week. The riders then were transported by ferry boat to Long Island, where they continued their journey ending the 75-mile ride at the Riverhead Fire Department in Riverhead, NY.

Day 3 of the ride proved to be the most challenging day so far. Torrential downpours may have dampened the ride route, but not the spirits of the "Muddy Angels," riding to honor EMS providers who have died in the line of duty. The riders traveled through much of Long Island, NY, and were warmly greeted by fire and EMS agencies in Selden and Smithtown, NY, as well as the Center for EMS for Northshore Long Island Hospital.

The riders also visited the Nassau County 9/11 Memorial where they paid tribute to the thousands of lives lost on that fateful day and then ended the 50-mile ride in Garden City, NY.

Some of the riders enjoyed a special opportunity to attend a New York Mets baseball game at CitiField in Flushing, NY, where the Mets were holding an "EMS Night" to celebrate EMS Week.

Day 4 brought more threatening weather to the New York City area; however, the riders were able to take advantage of a slight break in the weather to travel through Queens and into Manhattan, including a ride down Broadway and through Times Square. The route also took the riders past Ground Zero, where construction for a new World Trade Center complex is underway. The day ended with a reception by FDNY, including the FDNY EMS Pipes and Drums, and remarks by FDNY EMS Chief Abdo Nahmod. The riders were then transported to East Stroudsburg, PA, where a dinner presentation was given by the trauma service staff of Pocono Medical Center.

Day 5 began in East Stroudsburg, PA, and took the riders on an 80-mile ride through a good portion of eastern/central Pennsylvania, up and over some hilly country roads. Though they were once again facing inclement weather, they pedaled on and enjoyed breaks courtesy of agencies in Bangor, East Allen, Fleetwood and West Reading, PA, and local EMS councils and health systems, ending the day in Ephrata, PA.

Day 6 began at Leola Ambulance in Leola, PA, with a moving tribute to David Sauter, a member of Leola who died in the line of duty in 2007.

The riders then made their way into the Susquehanna Valley of Pennsylvania, facing difficult riding condtions because of rain and wind. They were able to get out of the rain at rest stops provided by Susquehanna Valley EMS, White Rose Ambulance (York, PA), Hanover Hospital and Bonneauville Fire Department. The skies opened up into a torrential downpour that the Muddy Angels had to push through to reach their final destination of the day at the Gettysburg Fire Department, where they were greeted by crews with towels and warm blankets. Some of the riders were able to check out Ghost Tours in Gettysburg that evening.

The final day of the ride had riders again facing threatening weather. They were escorted through the Gettysburg battlefield and then crossed over into Maryland, where a ceremony was held in Taneytown, where Mayor James McCarron, Jr. read a proclamation from Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, honoring the riders. The riders traveled through Maryland, with lunch provided by the Mount Airy Fire Department.

The riders then gathered just outside of Washington, DC, where they were joined by riders of the Kentucky leg of the bike ride, and were led by members of the Alexandria and Arlington (VA) Fire & Rescue to the final destination in Alexandria, where riders received a warm welcome from family, friends and members of the FDNY EMS Pipes and Drums. The riders rode over 100 miles on Day 7.

For more information on the ride, go to www.muddyangels.org.

Timothy J. Perkins, BS, EMT-P, is the EMS systems planner for the Virginia Department of Health's Office of EMS. He is also host of EMS World's EMS Squadcast podcast. To listen to the latest episode, visit EMSWorld.com/squadcast.