TYLER, Texas — The UT Health of East Texas EMS hosted the National EMS Moving Memorial.
A cross country movement, to honor E-M-S professionals, paramedics, flight nurses, and EMTs who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
“As long as our heroes names are spoken they never really leave us, and I truly believe that, so lets always speak their names,” Vicky Eads, widow of David Eads said at the memorial.
David, was a paramedic for 24 years who passed in the line of duty in 2021.
He was honored along with the 36 EMS and air medicals who also lost their lives across 18 states.
People who worked alongside David spoke on his behalf and touched on the kind of person he was.
“David had a big heart for EMS , this is what he loved to do, helping people and he was sorely missed across the entire state," CEO at UT Health East Texas EMS and Air One said.
Paramedics at the event described some of the dangerous situations they put themselves in each day not knowing what a call could lead to.
"We step out of our house everyday, we kiss our loved ones goodbye and we don't know for sure if were coming back home," Smith County Operational Supervisor Danielle Groves said.
The memorial started in Seattle and will make its way to Washington D.C., where Vicky will be in attendance with her family.
Aside from the memorial, UT Tyler Health of East Texas hosts a 5k marathon each spring in honor of David and other families who lost their loved ones in the line of duty.
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