Media Advisory: EMS Memorial Dedication Ceremony to Honor EMS Professionals on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at 11:00 a.m.

Ceremony Will Offer Special Tribute to Two EMTs Fallen in the Line of Duty

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 20, 2013) – New York State will host a special ceremony on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at 11 a.m. on the Empire State Plaza in Albany to honor the nearly 60,000 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel in the State and pay special tribute to two EMS providers who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2012.

State Health Commissioner Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H., will be joined by State legislators, State and local officials, EMS professionals and their families and friends at the annual EMS Memorial Dedication Ceremony. This year, the names of two fallen EMS members, Eric Monty of Altona, Clinton County, and David Restuccio of Staten Island, will be added to the "Tree of Life" Memorial on the Plaza. There will now be 44 names of EMS personnel enshrined on the memorial.

The ceremony will feature a presentation of colors by the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Center for Emergency Medical Services Honor Guard, the New York City Fire Department Medical Services Pipes & Drum Band, and Ross Zastrow, from the NYS Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. Mark Zeek, Chair of the New York State EMS Council, and Commissioner Shah will lay the Memorial Wreath in honor of the EMS members who lost their lives in service to others.

WHO

Commissioner Shah, State legislators, State and local officials, EMS providers and their families and friends, and members of the public

WHAT

Annual EMS Memorial Dedication Ceremony

WHERE

Empire State Plaza, Albany (between the Capitol and The Egg)

WHEN

Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at 11:00 a.m.