All donations will be collected in a Memorial Project fund at Kennebec Valley EMS Council, a 501(c) 3, tax exempt, and corporation. All checks written to KVEMSC – Memorial Project, will, therefore be tax deductible.

The Memorial design is scaled to fit well with the existing fire and law enforcement memorials which will flank it on either side along State Street in Augusta, near the State House. It is not a traditional memorial style in that it won’t have a large central stone and bronze type construction. While it is expected that there will be a small statue (three feet high) depicting a patient cared for by EMS providers in the middle of the Memorial, it will be joined by a number of innovative visual and audio features.

The view in the accompanying diagram is what a visitor would see upon entering the Memorial from the parking area with the State Library at her back and facing State Street and Capital Park (in front of her, but to the left). To the visitor’s right would be a glass wall on a granite pedestal with a welcoming message and a general description of the Memorial and the Maine EMS System and its mission and components. Ahead, at the far side from the entrance, the visitor sees another glass wall, this one square with the traditional Star of Life and “EMS” inscribed. This wall is also directly visible from State Street. Both walls will be brightly lit at night from lights shining up through their bases.

The remainder of the small plot will contain six granite benches for sitting and contemplation, and two to three dozen granite, metal, and glass pillars of random heights (four feet tall or less) placed randomly throughout the area. There will also be a glass wall at the same height in this section, (despite the varied heights of the pillars) also lit up at night, unifying the pillars like the statewide system. The pillars will be topped by one of three types of caps (three different colors of metal, yet to be determined). Each will denote one of three categories of persons being recognized. One type will be EMS providers who have died in the line of duty. A second will be EMS system leaders who have significantly contributed to the founding and development of the statewide Maine EMS system. The first two categories will bear an individual’s name and affiliation on the metal cap. Third will be a general recognition of EMS system providers. The caps will bear inscriptions such as “volunteer EMT”, “critical care nurse”, “emergency physician”, “paramedic/firefighter”, “emergency medical dispatcher”, or “first responder”. The scattering of these posts around the site represents the wide variety of EMS providers who work throughout the state every day. Again, in the middle of all of this, will be a statue with a patient being attended by two field providers.

Another unique feature of the Memorial is a planned audio component. Using a cell phone (options for an alternative not requiring a cell phone are also being researched), the visitor can dial into messages unique to the two glass walls (further explaining the EMS system, the Star of Life, and the like) and the granite posts. The messages for each of the posts will describe the contributions of the individuals cited (allowing family and/or colleagues to record messages of tribute as well). The messages for the generic provider posts will describe what each EMS provider job is like, with perhaps messages from people holding those positions. The audio component is intended to give the Memorial a meaningful public education role as well.

SPARE CHANGE CAMPAIGN NOW UNDERWAY! PLACE YOUR SPARE CHANGE IN THE CANS AT YOUR LOCAL SERVICES AND BUSINESSES. If you would like a collection can at your service just call your regional office.

Upcomging events include: Auction at the Mid Coast Seminar in Novemeber.