Borough President Vito Fossella Hosts 30th Annual Emergency Medical Services Recognition Ceremony

Borough President Vito Fossella honored Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics during the 30th Annual Emergency Medical Services Recognition Ceremony  in the Staaten.

The breakfast honored EMT’s, paramedics, emergency service instructors, and students for their heroic and -- and sometimes -- life-saving work. It was held in conjunction with the kickoff of National EMS Week.

“I am proud to keep this tradition going because it is a valuable way to express our gratitude to the brave men and women who wear the uniform so well, and who are frankly willing to die for us sometimes,” said Borough President Fossella.
In a hockey-crazed town, he referred to them as “goalies.”

​“To use a hockey analogy, one of the most exciting plays in the sport is when the goalie has a tremendous or exciting play and saves the puck,” he said. “In a way, that’s what you all do every single day -- you make that tremendous save. When there is a moment of hopelessness, of helplessness, you become the goalies -- you run into the house, you run to the car, or run into the building and you save lives. That is the greatest gift, the greatest vocation, the greatest thing you can do for your neighbors here on Staten Island.”