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| Contributed photo Pete Carbonneau, who died unexpectedly last year at age 51, was a leader in community emergency preparedness in the St. John Valley and beyond. Here he takes part in a mock drunk driving drill at Van Buren District High School several years ago. |
By Nicole Duplessis
Student Intern
A Van Buren firefighter and paramedic who died last year in line of duty was recently inducted into the National EMS Memorial, located in Colorado Springs.
Each year in June, the National EMS Memorial holds a weekend of events known as the National EMS Memorial Service. Hundreds of people including family members, friends, coworkers, etc., come from around the United States to pay tribute to the honorees. This year’s ceremony was held on June 20.
“This annual milestone honors all those who have lost their lives in the line of duty while serving in the Emergency Medical Services profession. Peter (Carbonneau) was an outstanding paramedic for the Town of Van Buren,” said Steven Corbin, Regional EMS coordinator.
Carbonneau, who suffered a medical emergency while on the job, served 24 years with the Van Buren Fire Department, and 29 years with the Van Buren Ambulance Department. Fifty-one at the time of his death, he began volunteering at the Van Buren Ambulance Dept. at the age of 24 and held many different roles throughout his years. He was also a very active community member, being chairman of the school board as his most recent role in the community. He was also a member of the Van Buren Housing Authority, a member and past chairman of the Van Buren Light and Power District, as well as a trustee of the Van Buren Hospital District.
Not only was he active in the town of Van Buren, but he also previously worked as a paramedic for the Madawaska Ambulance Service. He was known throughout Aroostook County and the state of Maine for his dedication to the Emergency Medical Services. In 2006, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Maine EMS for his contributions to the profession in the St. John Valley.
“He was just a good guy. He can be replaced but not at the level of care he gave to his patients,” Brian Caron, chief of the Van Buren Fire Department, said.
Caron had known Carbonneau since he began volunteering at the ambulance garage.
“I looked up to him as a mentor in the fire department when I joined it,” Caron said.
Carbonneau also loved to share the knowledge he gathered throughout his service with the community as well as with his co-workers and his fellow health care providers. His sense of humor and his comforting demeanor kept patients at ease. Carbonneau also loved children. He was a major part and asset to the Toy Drive that the Van Buren Fire Department now holds every Christmas.
“Peter was a big fan of kids and he went into many homes around the holidays and saw that there were a lot of kids that didn’t have many gifts, if any at all, and that just tore him apart. I can honestly say that Peter was involved every time this was held just because of his joy for kids,” Caron said.
Carbonneau had an impact on all those he worked with through the years, whether it was fellow co-workers, patients, members of the communities he served in, or children of all ages, his dedication to Emergency Medical Services has touched the lives of many.
“Good, bad or indifferent, got to get it done,” Caron quoted a fondly remembered saying from Carbonneau.
His wise words will always be remembered.
