[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 86 (Thursday, May 19, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2616-S2617]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE GLOBAL MEDICAL RESPONSE STARS OF LIFE AWARD RECIPIENTS

  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, in honor of EMS Week, I rise to recognize 
the 57 Global Medical Response Stars of Life award recipients for 2020 
through 2022.
  Heroic acts by EMS professionals happen every day across the globe. 
In the State of Missouri, Global Medical Response has two ground 
ambulance operations and 12 air ambulance operations stationed 
strategically to best support our rural communities. Every day, these 
professionals are called upon, but two instances come to mind that 
truly illustrate their dedication.
  In November of 2020, the air evac lifeteam flight crew--Flight Nurse 
Lisa Pittman, Flight Paramedic Rayna Periman, and Pilot Randy Varady--
out of Perryville were called to action and, within minutes, were at 
the bedside of a senior diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm. 
When time mattered most, this care team made the difference in saving a 
life.
  In February 2021, a high school student driving home from football 
practice was broadsided by a speeding semi-truck. This time, Flight 
Paramedic Eric Schowe and Flight Nurse Stephanie McMillan were ready at 
a moment's notice to provide life sustaining care on board the EMS 
helicopter to help this student beat the odds.
  Each year, the American Ambulance Association--AAA--honors and 
celebrates the most distinguished of Emergency Medical Services 
professionals for their acts of service, dedication to their 
communities, and commitment to excellence through the Stars of Life 
program. Global Medical Response, a member of the AAA and the world's 
largest provider of emergent and nonemergent medical transportation and 
healthcare services, recognizes an elite group of individuals, ranging 
from emergency medical technicians and paramedics, to fire service 
professionals, nurses, dispatch specialists, and highly-skilled 
aviators.
  To be a Stars of Life award recipient means to go above and beyond 
the call of duty. It means being ready to help a stranger, both on the 
ground and in the air with the care they need at that moment. It means 
always doing what is right for the patient, in every circumstance. To 
be a Star means to show compassion in the most difficult and humbling 
moments of a person's life. For some, it means making the ultimate 
sacrifice.
  It is important to remember the ones who are no longer with us but 
left an indelible mark of excellence on the world. May we never forget 
their heroism, acts of kindness, and unselfish sacrifice that not only 
made a difference to the people they helped, but also a lasting 
impression on the entire Emergency Medical Services community. To their 
families and dearest loved ones, may you feel peace in knowing their 
lives will never be forgotten.
  The Global Medical Response Stars of Life award recipients and all 
members of the Emergency Medical Services community at large are a 
shining light in our post-pandemic world and must be recognized as so. 
As such, I respectfully request that each of them be included in 
today's record, to honor their immense contributions and unwavering 
loyalty to their community while providing care to the world at a 
moment's notice.

       Lauryn Allgood, Flight Nurse of Opelousas, LA
       Brad Andrews, EMT of Tucson, AZ
       Olga Borozinski, Flight Nurse of Las Vegas, NV
       Loretta Burton, Paramedic of Youngstown, OH
       Larry Cardwell, Flight Paramedic of Sacramento, CA
       Destiny Carter, Paramedic of Colorado Springs, CO
       Luke Combs, Pilot of Rosebud, SD
       Mathew Cox, Paramedic of Stockton, CA
       Amira Drakes, EMT of Trinidad & Tobago
       Ismael Esparza, Paramedic of Palm Springs, CA
       Peter Gauna, EMT of Stafford, AZ
       Holly Griswold, Operations Supervisor of Cochise County, AZ
       Scott Hedrick, Paramedic of Evansville, IN
       Clifford Jacks, Paramedic of Concord, CA
       Adam Martin, Paramedic of Buffalo, NY
       Bryan McKeon, Paramedic of Monterey, CA
       Will Moser, Regional Manager of Clinical Practices of 
     Juneau, AK
       Diana Priego, Flight Nurse of Sacramento, CA
       Mathew Scott, Base Pilot Supervisor of Eagle Pass, TX
       Mary Springer, LMS National Administrator of North 
     Charleston, SC

[[Page S2617]]

       Rain Swift, RN & EMT of Aiea, HI
       James Tarver, Assistant Operations Supervisor of Natchez, 
     MS
       Wendy Unmacht, Paramedic of Nashville, TN
       Joshua Young, Flight Respiratory Therapist of Perrysburg, 
     OH
       Carlos Valdez Acosta-Meza, Paramedic Supervisor of San 
     Diego County, CA
       Micheline Allaire Clement, Flight Nurse of Ypsilanti, MI
       Renata Baboolal, EMT of Trinidad and Tobago
       Frank Berlanga, Paramedic of Nashville, TN
       Darla Biggerstaff, Paramedic of Waco, TX
       Lance Blythe, Flight Paramedic of Fayette County, GA
       Jeffery Boyd, Operations Supervisor of Linn County, KS
       Eric Bradshaw, Firefighter/Paramedic of Knoxville, TN
       Kyle Brule, Lead Paramedic of Stone Mountain, GA
       James Burns, EMT of Seattle, WA
       Pete Carlson, Paramedic Field Training Officer of Multnomah 
     and Josephine counties, OR
       Jason Dau, Flight Nurse of Kotzebue, AK
       Dubravka Frost, Paramedic of Contra Costa County, CA
       Michael Gibson, Flight Nurse of Salinas, CA
       Cathy Heikes, Flight Nurse of Dodge City, KS
       Kimberly Hiner, EMT of Hemet, CA
       Brooke Holoubek, Flight Nurse of Napa, CA
       Franchon Jackson, Dispatch Communications Supervisor of 
     Jackson, MS
       Bryanna Johnson, Base Clinical Nurse Lead of Harrisburg, IL
       Daniel MacDowell, Reserve Firefighter of Grants Pass, OR
       Cassandra Moreno, EMT of Tucson, AZ
       Nicole Piazza, Paramedic of West Hartford, CT
       Jack Rathgeber, Field Supervisor of Alamogordo, NM
       KC Robbins, Paramedic Supervisor of Macomb, IL
       Dylan Schoch, Paramedic of Prescott, AZ
       Robert Sebree, Paramedic of Ventura County, CA
       Lauren Van Damme, Fixed Wing Pilot of Greenville, SC
       Mario Vialpando, Field Training Officer of Pueblo, CO
       Lauri Wempen, Flight Paramedic of Riverton, WY
       Todd Wobbe, Paramedic of Belleville, IL
       Posthumous Honors
       Jacob Dindinger, EMT of Tucson, AZ
       Clifford Fontaine, AEMT of Las Vegas, NV
       William Levi, AEMT of Las Vegas, NV

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