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EMS funeral team ready for action
Firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians — all first responders — the people who run toward danger when everyone else is running away. Everyday, they pull on their bunker pants, strap on their duty weapon or shove a stethoscope into their pocket and answer the calls to respond to innumerable types of emergencies: everyday, may be their last.
When the unthinkable happens, a first responder dies in the line of duty, organizations across the state and the nation stand ready to help the family in their time of loss and to honor the fallen for their life and their sacrifice.
Emergency medical services such as Vernon County Ambulance District first began to appear in the 1960s and 70s.
Since then, 27 Missourians have given their lives responding to a medical emergency. The first, Wilma Francis from Caldwell County Ambulance died Sept. 9, 1973. The most recent, Jonathan Noce from Joachim-Plattin Ambulance died May 25, 2016.
While most of the 27 names on the Wall of Honor are from other areas of the state, on Sept. 25, 2012, Justin Hueston of Vernon County Ambulance District was killed in a vehicle wreck while responding to the station.
Today, his father, VCAD paramedic Mike Hueston, is the commander of the Region 6, Missouri Emergency Medical Service Funeral Response Team.
Hueston and his team of volunteers provide a range of support to families and agencies following a line of duty death.
“When my son was killed September of 2012, one phone call was made — I didn’t know about the funeral response team — the ladies in the office made one phone call,” Hueston said.
George Wright, EMS funeral response team state commander and other volunteers came to Nevada and assisted in the funeral and helping the Hueston family.
“I was really impressed,” he explained.
Today, the Missouri EMS Funeral Response Team has three enclosed trailers positioned in different regions of the state, one of which is graciously housed by Vernon County Ambulance District.
“We will do about everything that an armed services honor guard does,” Hueston said.
The Missouri EMS Funeral Response Team provides their services to families at no cost. They are a 501(c)3 organization so donations are welcomed.
While there have been no EMS line of duty deaths in southwest Missouri since Justin Hueston in 2016, his father has responded to a number of other funerals either for active or former members of an emergency medical service.
The team’s trailer carries all the necessities — flags, grave markers, mourning bands for badges and the other items which may be needed.
Members of the team will stand vigil over the casket of the fallen, serve as honor guard, or even pallbearers if needed.
First founded in 2009, the team has responded to 133 funerals, the vast majority of which are non-line of duty deaths.
Today, the team has 81 members spread across the state.
For more information on the Missouri EMS Funeral Response Team, contact State Commander Greg Wright at 660-415-7990 or visit http://moemsfuneralteam.org.