Jackson, Miss. — The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) dedicated an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Memorial today at our central campus in Jackson. The memorial was erected to honor the EMS personnel killed in the line of duty. MSDH State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney, Governor Tate Reeves and family members of the fallen were among those in attendance.
“We are so proud to have the memorial on our campus and to have been charged with its stewardship,” said Dr. Edney. “It is particularly important to recognize the inherent dangers of working in EMS in the field. We don't take the service of our EMS professionals for granted, and we certainly don't take the sacrifice that has been paid by these brave men and women who are on the monument today for granted.”
During a particularly emotional part of the ceremony, attendees paused to remember the 23 fallen whose names are etched into the stone and steel memorial. The observance also featured a presentation of the EMS Honor Guard and bell ceremony, which was rang as each name was called.
Mississippi has more than 5,000 licensed EMS professionals – including EMTs, paramedics, dispatchers, flight medics and first responders – who serve across all 82 counties. Every year, they respond to over half a million emergency calls. Whether it's a car crash on a rural highway, a heart attack in a small town, or a natural disaster that strikes without warning, our EMS professionals serve the communities.
“These are the men and women who responded to the call, not knowing what they would face but knowing that someone in our state needed help,” said Gov. Reeves. “They served with courage, with compassion and with an unwavering commitment to saving other people's lives. This memorial is more than just stone. It is a symbol of sacrifice. It is a promise that we will never forget.”
We remember the sacrifice and courage of the 23 fallen and are grateful for their heroic service.
Jeff Cartledge, 1989 (not shown)
James Archer, 2005
Dennis Rushing, 2014
William Alan Smith, 2014
Mike Collums, 2017
Trey Auld, 2017
Jim Spruiell, 2017
Jennifer Hesselbein, 2019
David Martin, 2020
Mack McCann, 2020
Dustin Raines, 2020
Andy Lewis, 2020
Kenneth Rainey, 2020
Wade Spruill, 2021
James Douglas Ming, 2021
Ryan Shields, 2021
Robbie Pearson, 2021
John Mitchell Crow, 2023
Philip Allan, 2023
Mary Katie Pipkins, 2023
Dustin Pope, 2025
Jakob Kindt, 2025
Cal Wesolowski, 2025
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