Community Hospital Honors Emergency Personnel

Emergency personnel from the San Angelo Fire Department, medical staff and members of the community gathered before Community Medical Center on Knickerbocker Rd. Thursday evening for a brief ceremony honoring the city’s first responders.

The annual event is held each year on Sept. 11, a day selected specifically for the images evoked of emergency personnel “running against the tide” when the terrorist attacks shocked the nation 13 years ago.

“Sept. 11, 2001, 13 years ago, was a torrid day,” said Jeremy Riney, one of the hosptial’s staff who helped coordinate the event. “To take a moment in time and recognize them each year for what they do and not take it for granted [is the reason the event was held today].”

In his opening statements, Riney recalled where he was on the day of the terrorist strike, a memory that unites almost all Americans old enough to conceive of what was unfolding.

“If you’re like me, you remember exactly where you were, exactly where you were standing…” he said.

SAFD Chief Ricky Long, who was present on Thursday evening, said he was at Central Fire Station when he learned of the attacks 13 years ago.

His reaction, he said, was a mix of emotions. “[It was] anger at the event, pride in the emergency response, anger in the loss of firefighters. They were doing what they wanted to do, they were doing what they loved and you are proud and happy that they did their job, but you have to understand that they call firefighting a brotherhood and when somebody gets killed in the line of duty in fire service, people get angry because we feel like we should be able to save everybody.”

Roughly 15 EMS from the San Angelo Fire Department were in attendance on Thursday evening, several of which had to show up late due to a shooting that had occurred across the street just hours prior. Another three had to leave to go on medical runs during the ceremony, Long said, however the first responders are grateful for the honor.

“Any recognition we can get from the community we work in is always a good thing,” Long said. “Anytime they’re thinking about us is a good thing. Most of the time we do our job in relative anonymity and that’s usually fine with us. The entire community has poured themselves out today. I hate that it’s a tragedy that brings something about like this, but if that tragedy keeps us remembering and brings us closer, fantastic.”

Between sputters of sprinkles that gradually grew throughout the ceremony, the event featured short speeches from Medical Director Michael Blanc, Chief Long, and Delilah Harper of the San Angelo Performing Arts Coalition, all of whom expressed gratitude for the work of the crews in the city.

Harper was the recipient of an AED, or Automated External Defibrillator, this year, an annual gift passed on to community organizations who may need emergency medical equipment for safety measures in high-traffic public spaces.

Harper said she intends to place the new defibrillator in the completed city auditorium to provide an extra assurance of safety.