(WKYT) – The lives of 45 EMS Kentuckians who died in the line of duty were honored Wednesday morning in Frankfort during National EMS Week.
The Kentucky EMS Foundation is trying to raise enough money to build a memorial to the fallen.
A memorial wreath with 45 flowers was laid in honor of fallen EMS workers. Names were read out loud so their service to others is not forgotten.
Dan Durham, chair of the Kentucky EMS Foundation, said honoring fallen colleagues is difficult.
“It’s something that we don’t want to do…to see one of our own that is hurting on one that we’ve lost to see that…to see that several times…to see one of our own to know that could be one of us,” Durham said.
Remembering the fallen
Paramedic Wesley England died June 2, 2025. A year ago, England got off his shift, got in his car, suffered a heart attack and died in a vehicle accident. It is believed England was under heavy stress at work that day, causing the heart attack.
EMT Chastian McWhorter of Somerset-Pulaski County EMS died April 1, 2024. State police said McWhorter was driving a Somerset-Pulaski County ambulance heading north on U.S. 27 in Garrard County when the driver of a semi-truck made a turn in front of the ambulance, striking it. McWhorter, who was 26, and a patient in the ambulance were killed.
Durham recalled coming to the scene to comfort the family.
“We honored him on the scene there,” Durham said.
Durham said the majority of the 45 EMS workers honored died during a transport accident or suffered a medical emergency either during or after helping a patient.
Self-care training
Classes are being taught called “We Will Remember.” The classes focus on EMS self-care.
“In order to learn lessons from them to take better care of ourselves to get check ups and drive safer,” Durham said.
The names read at the ceremony will be added to a memorial one day. Since 2017, the Kentucky EMS Foundation has tried to raise funds to build an EMS memorial in Juniper Park in Frankfort. The goal is $400,000.
Durham said the number of EMS workers is on the decline and it is difficult to recruit. He said the reasons include pay and difficult working conditions.
Those interested in donating to the Kentucky EMS Memorial can visit https://kentuckyemsmemorial.org/.