Spring, 2004 – The concept of an EMS Memorial adjacent to the fire and law enforcement memorials in Augusta is circulated by former State EMS director, Kevin McGinnis. State Senator Scott Cowger agrees to sponsor legislative action to further the initiative.
Winter, 2004 – Excerpt from Journal of Maine EMS:
“Maine EMS Memorial Project Moves Ahead"
“A two year project to establish a Maine EMS Memorial in Augusta is now well underway. The planned monument would be built adjacent to and in a size and style resembling the existing fire and police memorials on the Statehouse grounds. Two initiatives require success in order to make the Memorial a reality. The first is a legislative campaign and the second is a fundraising drive….”
6/23/2005 – Signed into Law:
LD 1498 Resolve, To Establish the Committee To Study the Establishment of a Memorial for Emergency Medical Services Personnel and To Set Aside Space for That Memorial
This resolve establishes the Committee to Study the Establishment of a Memorial for Emergency Medical Services Personnel. The resolve directs the committee to study issues and make recommendations regarding the establishment of a memorial to honor emergency medical services personnel who have fallen in the line of duty and others who have made significant contributions to the development of the statewide Maine emergency medical services system. The resolve also directs that space be set aside for the Maine Emergency Medical Services Memorial in the area of the State House grounds adjacent to the memorials to firefighters and law enforcement personnel.
Winter, 2005 – Excerpt from Maine EMS Journal:
“Maine EMS Memorial Project Update
“The project to construct a monument/memorial for the Maine EMS system and fallen providers adjacent to the fire and law enforcement memorials in Augusta is moving forward.
“Legislation sponsored by Senator Scott Cowger, and co-sponsored by some two dozen other legislators, was passed this past spring to create a legislative study committee to establish the design, location, content and cost of the memorial. That committee includes the project’s originator, former state EMS director, Kevin McGinnis, Winthrop EMT Cynthia Thompson, NorthStar EMT-I Carla DeGraw, and regional coordinator, Rick Petrie. Besides Sen. Cowger and a number of state officials, the committee also includes Representatives John Tuttle and Terrence McKenney, both EMTs and co-sponsors of the bill.”
The state Bureau of General Services is establishing a memorial park on the former AMHI grounds overlooking the Kennebec River and has invited the EMS, fire and law enforcement memorials to space there. The EMS memorial committee has taken the position that its monument will be located with the police and fire memorials. Those in charge of the police memorial have stated a reluctance to move, while the Firefighters Federation is studying the issue. Designs placing the EMS memorial between the existing memorials on State Street next to the capitol, and for relocating all three to the new memorial park, will be presented to the three groups in the next couple of months.
“Regardless of the EMS memorial’s location, the State has provided the memorial park’s design professionals to the EMS committee to help design that memorial. The design and cost information is expected to be complete by March when fundraising can begin.”
Spring, 2006 – Maine EMS Memorial Site Plan Presented to Capitol Planning Commission for First Time. March, 2006. The plan for the Memorial was unanimously approved on the current Capitol complex site adjacent to the fire and law enforcement memorials. Spring, 2006 Memorial Site Concept Drawing
Spring, 2007 - Excerpt from Journal of Maine EMS:
“EMS Week Marks Maine EMS Memorial Plan Unveiling and Campaign Kick-Off
“After nearly three years of planning, legislative process, and negotiations with State government agencies, the Maine EMS Memorial Project is entering its final phase: fund-raising and construction. The design for the Memorial will be unveiled at the May 22nd Maine EMS Week awards ceremony at the State House on Tuesday May 22, and 2 PM. The fund-raising campaign to support the building and maintenance of the Memorial will also be announced. “The Memorial Project is intended to produce a permanent commemorative to those who have lost their lives in the course of their EMS duty or have otherwise significantly contributed to the development of Maine’s EMS system. Legislation was passed in 2005 to create a legislative study committee to establish the design, location, content and cost of the memorial. That committee reported back to the Legislature in 2006 with its recommendations for a memorial located with the police and fire memorials in Augusta.
“Several months were then spent in negotiations to establish whether the memorial would be added to that site or whether it would be added to a site on the grounds of AMHI where a new memorial park is planned. When moving the fire and police memorials to the new memorial park proved not feasible, it was determined that the EMS memorial would be built with the fire and police memorials near the State House.
“More negotiations ensued in an attempt to eliminate a driveway between the police and fire memorials to create a more unified public safety memorial park. This effort recently failed when the State agency in charge determined the driveway to be needed…..” Fall, 2007 – Excerpt from Journal of Maine EMS: 
Winter 2007 Diagram
Spring, 2008 – Journal of Maine EMS Article:
“The Maine EMS Memorial Moves into Fund-Raising Phase
“By Bill Zito, Executive Director, MCEMSC
“The Maine EMS Memorial Project has now begun its fundraising planning, with the campaign to raise $250,000 or more to kick off during EMS Week in late May, 2008. The goal will be to complete the fund-raising campaign and break ground for the memorial by EMS Week 2009.
“Memorial Project chair, Kevin McGinnis announced that Rick Petrie, regional coordinator in the Kennebec Valley and Northeast regions has agreed to lead the fundraising effort as chair of that committee. Attending the first Committee in January were Dennis Brockway, Jim McKinney, Tim Beals, Bill Zito, Lori Metayer, Dr. Rebecca Chagrasulis, and Dr. Paul Liebow. The Committee welcomes new members at any time (see the Journal’s contacts page for Rick Petrie’s information). All donations will be collected in a Memorial Project fund at Kennebec Valley EMS Council, a 501(c)3, tax exempt, 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. The pillars will be topped by one of three types of cap (three different colors of metal, yet to be determined). Each will denote one of three categories of person 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.
“The fund-raising campaign details will be announced during Memorial Week. The funds being raised will not only be for construction but to support on-going maintenance, repair and replacement as necessary. It is also expected that EMS services will be solicited to sign up for one visit to the memorial to pick up litter and report problems. A different service will visit each week over a year’s calendar. One feature of the fund-raising campaign will be a challenge for EMS services and hospitals to contribute in a manner that is fair given the variety of types and sizes of services and hospitals in the system.”
Fall/Winter, 2012 – Capitol Planning Commission Approves Construction Start
In December, 2012, after over three years of fundraising efforts, and with funding coming primarily from Maine EMS services and team members, and Samoset Conference auctions supported by Maine EMS services and individuals, sufficient funding was raised to start building the Memorial and Education Site in a two part process over the next three years. The Capitol Planning Commission, State Bureau of General Services and State Legislative Council approved this approach to building the site as final completion funds were continuing to be raised.
The Memorial Fundraising Committee selected the following individuals to be a part of the first installation.
People who will represent EMS team members in recordings for the audio feature to which visitors can listen while at the Education Site (or anywhere in Maine):
1. Volunteer medical first responder – Wayne Seeley, Dennys River Volunteer FD Ambulance
2. EMT – Randy Bossie, Patten Ambulance
3. Paramedic – David Buccello, Southwest Harbor EMS
4. Emergency Medicine Physician/EMS Medical Director - Dr. Rebecca Chagrasulis, Stephens memorial Hospital, Norway
5. Trauma Surgeon – Dr. David Burke, Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor
6. Interventional Cardiologist – Dr. Mirle A. (Bud) Kellett, Maine Medical Center, Portland
7. Emergency Nurse – Carmen Hetherington, Central Maine Medical Center and Parkview Adventist Medical Center, Lewiston and Brunswick
8. Emergency Medical Dispatcher – Jennifer Rairdon, Maine State Police, Houlton
9. Flight Nurse/ Flight Paramedic – Lori Metayer RN/EMT-P, LifeFlight of Maine, Lewiston
10. Community Paramedic – Adam Michaud, Crown Ambulance, Presque Isle
11. Trauma nurse - Tammy LaChance, Maine Medical Center, Portland
12. Regional EMS Director – Joanne LeBrun, Tri-County EMS, Lewiston
13. State EMS Director – Jay Bradshaw, Maine EMS, Belgrade
The following were recognized for having given their lives in the line of duty:
14. Alan Parsons - Died July 5, 2007.
15. Matt Jeton - Died November 19, 1993.
16. Donald MacIntyre - Died November 19, 1993.
17. Peter Carbonneau - Died April 8, 2012.
18. Robert Washington- Died January 27, 1996.
19. Don Martin - Died August 3, 1998.
20. Richard Farrar - Died January 30, 1992.
The following were designated to recognition as statewide system builders in the first round of such designations.:
21. Dr. Larry Hopperstead
22. Dr. Alan Hume
23. Dr. Robert Tredwell
Spring, 2013 – Maine EMS Week (Saturday, May 18, 2013). Phase I Groundbreaking Ceremony.
May, 2013 – Phase I Construction Plan
Summer, 2013 – Phase I Construction Complete
Fall, 2014 - Founding Partner Shovel Awards at Samoset Conference Memorial Auction
Purpose: To recognize individuals or organizations that helped the Maine EMS Memorial and Education Site chair in a capacity of quiet, determined persistence in accomplishing the project goal. They sought no accolades for their efforts and never wavered in their support.
Awarded to:
• Frank Coombs, Hampden FD, and his Flames, as Samoset Memorial Fundraising Auctioneer Extraordinaire, 2008-17,
• Atlantic Partners EMS; Especially Rick Petrie, Kelly Roderick, and Heather McGlauflin
• Jay Bradshaw, Maine EMS Director
• Kevin McGinnis, Memorial Founder and Committee Chair, also received a surprise shovel award at the Conference Awards Ceremony from Randolph Mantooth (John Gage on TV’s Emergency! Show)
Winter, 2015 – Phase II Construction Plan
Spring, 2016 – Maine EMS Memorial and Education Site Files Maintenance and Insurance Plan with State Bureau of General Services Which Approves It
Winter, 2017 – Final Inscriptions for Three pillars Erected in Phase II Construction Approved:
Pillar 1 (far left as one faces the pillars).
We honor and remember those who have given their lives in the line of duty:
Richard Farrar, Paramedic, 1/30/92
Matt Jeton, Flight Paramedic, 11/19/93
Donald MacIntyre, Flight Nurse, 11/19/93
Robert Washington, Paramedic, 1/27/96
Don Martin, Paramedic, 8/3/98
Allan Parsons, Paramedic, 7/5/07
Peter Carbonneau, Paramedic, 4/8/12
Peter Larlee, EMT, 3/2/2016
Pillar 2 (center pillar)
We honor and thank those who helped build the Maine EMS System:
Dr. Alan Hume
Dr. Larry Hopperstead
Dr. Robert Tredwell
Pillar 3 (far right pillar)
We celebrate those who make the Maine EMS System successful every day:
Our career and volunteer EMS and paramedicine professionals
Our physicians and surgeons
Our nurses
Our emergency medical dispatchers
Our local, regional, and state system leaders and medical directors
…and their families
Winter 2017 Final Phase II Construction Diagram
Spring, 2018 – Phase II Construction Completed 
May, 2018 – EJ Perry Construction of Hallowell Erects Pillars and Completes Stone and Grounds Work
Spring, 2019 – Friends of EMS for Maine preliminary, pre-incorporation board planning begins with
Joanne Lebrun, Tri-County EMS Executive Director, Pick Petrie, APEMS Executive Director, Ben Zimmerman Aroostook EMS Executive Director, and Kevin and Nancy McGinnis.
Friends… Articles of Incorporation Filed with Secretary of State in April, 2019.