Athens Regional Medical Center

Winder Man To Be Honored at National EMS Memorial Service

John E. Steed of Barrow County EMS died in the line of duty in an ambulance crash on September 2, 1983. This month, he will be honored in a National EMS Memorial Service in Roanoke, Virginia. Steed, a paramedic with Barrow County Emergency Services, was killed when a transfer truck hit the ambulance he was driving on Highway 29 in Statham. Injured in the wreck were the driver of the transfer truck and Steed's partner, the late Doug Holman of Winder.

Since Steed's death, a memorial award has been presented annually in his honor. The John E. Steed Memorial Award is presented annually by the Northeast Georgia EMS Council to the EMT of the Year at the Region Ten Awards Banquet each May. In 1992, Holman received the award.

Steed will be honored at a national service at First Baptist Church of Roanoke on May 25, 2002. For twenty years, the National EMS Memorial Service has been honoring EMS providers who have given their lives in the line of duty. Steed will be one of 26 honorees at this year's ceremony. The recipients will join 226 others previously honored by the Service.

Members of the honorees' families will be presented with a medallion, symbolizing eternal memory; a U.S. Flag that has flown over the Nation's Capital, symbolizing service to the country; and a white rose, symbolizing their undying love. Each honoree's name will be engraved on a bronze oak leaf which is added to the "Tree of Life", the permanent memorial on exhibit at the "To The Rescue" museum in Roanoke.

Today, Steed's nephew, Adam Harris, serves as a paramedic with the Jackson County EMS. Steed's parents, Pete and Mary Steed of Winder and his sister, Ann Harris, weekend Nursing Administrative Supervisor at Athens Regional Medical Center, will be attending the service in Roanoke.

This page last modified: April 22, 2004
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