EMS honors bring personal gratitude full circle in Glasgow
For the second year, the EMS Rise and Respond Awards were presented to more than 40 local staffers. Wilson said the recognition is meant to remind first responders that their work does not go unnoticed.
GLASGOW, Ky. — Years after ambulance crews rushed to help her mother during a medical emergency, Samantha Wilson still wishes she could remember the names of the people who showed up that day.
What she does remember is the care they gave her family in one of its hardest moments.
That memory is what led the Atlantic Bay Mortgage banker to recognize local ambulance staffers as a way of giving back.
“They all play a part in saving lives in our community,” Wilson said. “Whether they’re a rookie or they’ve been here for years, they’re all taking part in lifesaving calls on a regular basis.”
For the second year, the EMS Rise and Respond Awards were presented to more than 40 local staffers. Wilson said the recognition is meant to remind first responders that their work does not go unnoticed.
Brooke Weir, who co-sponsored the awards, fought back tears as she presented medals to two staffers who responded during one of the scariest moments of her life.
“I had a panic attack. I was driving, and I didn’t know what was going on,” she said. “I looked at their shirts right away, and as soon as I calmed down, I texted somebody right away and said, ‘We have to remember these names.’”
For Robert Gibson, the gesture carries special meaning.
When he first joined the ambulance service, he said, there was little public acknowledgment for the work. Everyone simply had a job to do.
But since Sept. 11, 2001, the nation has been reminded time and again how vital first responders are during its worst moments.
“This kind of thing just shows that there are still people who remember,” Gibson said.
Gibson said first responders often meet people on the worst days of their lives, when emotions are high and rational thinking can give way to panic. Even so, those moments can stay with emergency workers long after the call ends.
“I think it’s very important for the younger generation to see that their work is still appreciated because, often, you’re not appreciated out there,” he said. “People don’t always think rationally in the moment or during an emergency situation.”
Wilson said supporting ambulance crews felt personal.
“They’re some of the best people that I’ve ever met,” she said. “Those are some hard calls, and it’s just very near and dear to my heart.”
