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National EMS Memorial Bike Ride stops at Beebe Healthcare

Dog tag presentation to family of former county EMS, Beebe ER employee Eric Harris
The National EMS Memorial Bike Ride stopped at Beebe Healthcare in Lewes May 18. The Lewes Fire Department was ready to salute their own as they rode through town. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS
Chris Flood
May 22, 2023

Story Location:
Beebe Healthcare
424 Savannah Road
Lewes, DE 19971
United States

About 100 riders in the the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride East Coast stopped at Beebe Healthcare in Lewes May 18 for breakfast and the presentation of memorial dog tags to family members of Eric Harris, a former Sussex County paramedic and Beebe Healthcare emergency department physician’s assistant.

There are five EMS memorial bike rides held across the country annually – East Coast, Southern, Midwest, Colorado and West Coast. The East Coast ride ran May 13-19, beginning in Boston and ending in Washington, D.C., with six stops along the way.

As part of the ride, several ceremonies honoring former EMS workers are held with their families. Family members are presented with dog tags showing their loved one will never be forgotten. The cyclist presenting the dog tags also carries one during the entirety of the ride.

Harris, who died in July 2022, worked 14 years as a Sussex County paramedic before becoming a physician’s assistant for the Beebe Healthcare Emergency Department in 2008.

For more information on the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride, go to nemsmbr.org.

 

Beebe Healthcare President and CEO Dr. David Tam talks with bike riders as they eat breakfast.
The Sussex County EMS Color Guard stands at attention. Shown are (l-r) Candace Ernst, Sean Cannon, Tyler Martin and Kenny Redinger.
David LaCovey sets up a portable bike rack.
The list of former EMS workers being honored as part of the 2023 memorial bike ride.
Rider Tracy Cleary rings the bell after the name of each EMS worker who died in the past year is read.
Following a brief ceremony, Leigh Chambers of Wichita, Kan., plays the bugle.
More than 100 EMS workers have died in the past year, some in the line of duty. Each name was read aloud. Shown are (l-r) Kellie Barnes, Barry Hoke, Allen Barnes, Sloane Hoban, Brenda Rother and Daniel Wassel.
Before the ceremony, there was breakfast. Jason Kreyling of Flemington, N.J., grabs a breakfast sandwich and some salt.
The riders head off to Georgetown after about 60 minutes in Lewes.
Sussex EMS paramedic Lars Granholm gives Eric Harris’ wife Leah Wilkerson a hug before presenting her with a dog tag.
Among the things Sussex EMS Director Bobby Murray commended Eric Harris on was being ahead of his time in caring about the mental health of his coworkers.
Dr. Kevin Bristowe is Sussex EMS medical director and Beebe Healthcare director of emergency services.
The riders and Beebe Healthcare staff gather for a group photo.

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