Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 31, 1995 TAG: 9503310055
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KIMBERLY DAVIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Roanoke sheriff's deputy made his living as a jail medic. In his spare time, he was a volunteer with the county's Cave Spring First Aid and Rescue Squad.
The 30-year-old Pendrey's life came to an end Feb. 26, 1985, when a sick prisoner at the Roanoke City Jail beat him to death with with an oxygen tank.
Pendrey, along with 30 other emergency medical service providers who have died while trying to save others, will be remembered Saturday at the third annual National EMS Memorial Service in Roanoke.
About 600 family and squad members from 13 states are expected to gather for the tribute. Six of the honorees were from Virginia.
Efforts to organize the annual memorial service began in Richmond in 1991. The first service took place here in 1993, because Roanoke is home of the world's first emergency medical service, organized by Julian Wise in 1928.
Roanoke also is home to the only national EMS exhibit, ``To the Rescue,'' which opened in 1991 at the Roanoke Valley History Museum at Center in the Square.
Saturday's service will be at 7 p.m. at Wise's lifelong place of worship, Greene Memorial United Methodist Church on Second Street Southwest. The service, and a reception afterward at the museum, are open to the public.
The service will bring the number of men and women honored to more than 70. Their names are inscribed on individual bronze oak leaves that make up ``The Tree of Life,'' a permanent memorial to those who have died in the line of duty.
``The oak tree is a strong tree, and we thought it would be a good symbol,'' said Andree Brooks, executive director of the Julian Wise Foundation. ``It does a lot to help bring people to our museum, as well as provide recognition for EMS around the country.''
Cave Spring and Roanoke EMS members also will participate in the service.
Nominations are submitted to the National EMS Memorial Service in Richmond, and an 11-member committee decides who will be honored.
``We sent letters to all of the EMS directors throughout the country, and they got back to us on the people eligible. We have criteria that they must meet,'' spokeswoman Shirley Bagby said.
To represent their loved ones' service to the community, family members and colleagues will be given an American flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol. They also will receive a single white rose, signifying love of others, and a memorial medallion.
This year's keynote speaker will be Dan Manz of Vermont, president of the National Association of EMS Directors.
It means a lot when your child is remembered, said Rachel Thomasson, Pendrey's mother.
``It's more than words can say,'' she said. ``I don't think anybody can understand it until they lose a child.''
``One word can sum it up: I am very, very proud.''
by CNB