Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance kicks of EMS week with open house and dedication of Behr/Stone memorial

Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps kicked of EMS week Sunday with an emotional ceremony dedicating the Heidi J. Behr and William A. Stone reflecting memorial, followed by the corps’ annual open house event.

The families of the two fallen corps members, Heidi Behr and William Stone, gathered with RVAC members at the newly erected memorial for a ceremony that included a flyover by a Suffolk MedEvac helicopter.

Behr, 23, and Stone, 30, were killed in the line of duty on May 3, 2005, when the ambulance in which they were rushing a cardiac patient to the hospital swerved to avoid a truck, lost control and crashed into a tree on Main Road in Aquebogue. The patient survived but the two young emergency workers perished as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.

“Today we recognize not only Heidi and Bill for their supreme sacrifice but you as well for your courage in carrying on,” RVAC president Kim Pokorny told the families at the ceremony.

“Every time we sit for a few moments here on these benches or drive by and see this beautiful momument lit up at night, we’ll remember,” Pokorny said. “We’ll always remember.

“The sirens may have fallen silent on Heidi and Bill but their spirits live on. Every time you see an ambulance go by or a MedEvac fly over, our hope is that your pain is a little lessened and you’ll be a little comforted knowing that others have taken up their noble and honorable work,” Pokorny said.

She unveiled a plaque placed at the memorial site, which reads: “In memory of Heidi J. Behr and William A. Stone, who made the ultimate sacrifice May 3, 2005. May they rest in peace and never be forgotten.”

When the Suffolk Police helicopter made a low pass overhead following Pokorny’s remarks, there weren’t many dry eyes in the group gathered around the stone monument.

The ceremony preceded the corps’ open house, where visitors were provided information about the workings of the ambulance corps, fire safety and child restraint/car seat safety.

RVAC honored for hands-only CPR community training

The corps also offered free instruction in hands-only CPR yesterday. RVAC was honored last week by Suffolk REMSCO for providing instruction in the life-saving technique to 1,319 people in the past year. Corps members have been teaching hands-only CPR throughout the community, said RVAC training coordinator Capt. Amanda Zilnicki. RVAC has held CPR training days at Riverhead High School and has provided training at the Riverhead Country Fair and to organizations such as Riverhead Rotary.

The hands-only technique does not involve mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, which is something people are reluctant to do, Zilnicki said. But properly administered, rapid chest compressions can help keep a cardiac arrest victim’s blood flowing until EMTs arrive, she said.

“That’s why it’s such an important skill to learn,” Zilnicki said. “And it’s easy to learn. It’s something everyone should know how to do.”

RiverheadLOCAL photos by Denise Civiletti