Fallen Crown Ambulance paramedic
honored on memorial
PRESQUE ISLE — As the nation celebrates EMS Week from May 19-25, the state of Maine will honor fallen emergency service providers with a memorial in Augusta through the efforts of several members of the EMS community and the Maine Ambulance Association.
The memorial, revealed May 18, includes the name Robert Washington, 
a Crown Ambulance paramedic who suffered a fatal heart attack at age 40 after serving in that department for nearly five years.
Washington was known for having the highest call average of the service and was recognized in his community through service as an on-call paramedic during sporting events and other community activities.
“Robert Washington was a paramedic with Crown Ambulance who died in the line of duty Jan. 27, 1996,” said Perry Jackson, Crown Ambulance supervisor. “Robert was performing a transfer of a cardiac patient to Eastern Maine Medical Center when he himself fell victim to a heart attack and died while en route with the patient.”
On Saturday, May 18, representatives from TAMC were present for the revealing of the memorial, which is erected near the Capitol and adjacent to the fire and police memorials. TAMC representatives included former Crown Ambulance paramedics Stewart and Ruth White, and current paramedics Peggy Jalbert and Amy Gagnon.
The National EMS Memorial in Colorado Springs, Colo. has also honored Washington.
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) designated National EMS week to recognize the contributions of the Pre Hospital Emergency Medical Services Provider and have established the 2013 theme as “EMS: One Mission. One Team.”
President Gerald Ford first declared National EMS Week in 1974, and the celebrated week moved to May in 1994.
According to ACEP’s website, “National Emergency Medical Services Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day life-saving services of medicine’s ‘front line.’ This information can be used throughout the year for public education and safety programs.”
“Our tradition here at Crown Ambulance is to have a celebration meal, usually a cookout, for the EMS staff,” said Jackson.
The department is hosting a meal at Mantle Lake Park Saturday, May 25 at 3 p.m. and have invited EMS staff, the surrounding first responder agencies who assist Crown Ambulance regularly, and members of the state and federal legislative delegations who have been supportive of EMS.
