posted July 15, 2024

Pensacola’s Life Flight and Niceville’s Okaloosa MedFlight perform special flyover 

Pensacola, FL, July 15, 2024 – As a demonstration of their honor and respect for EMS professionals who died in the line of duty, Life Flight 1, based in Pensacola, and Okaloosa MedFlight, based in Niceville, provided a helicopter escort for the National EMS Memorial Service Moving Honors procession as it made its way across the Florida panhandle on Sunday, July 14. Both bases are part of Air Methods, the nation’s leading emergency air medical service. 

“Any opportunity to pay tribute to fellow EMS personnel that have fallen in the line of duty is an honor and something we are proud to be a part of,” said Life Flight 1 Flight Nurse Dakota Ward. “Many of us personally know EMS professionals who have died in the line of duty that have been recognized by the National EMS Memorial Service, so this means a lot to us.” 

With new names added annually, this year’s memorial included the names of Marc Gann and Samuel “Adam” Russell who were killed in an air medical accident on April 2, 2023. They were part of the Life Saver 4 crew based in Sylacauga, AL, a sister program of Life Flight and Okaloosa MedFlight.  

“Being able to participate in the procession is a privilege and an opportunity to express gratitude, respect, and solidarity with the individuals who have given their lives in service to others,” said Okaloosa MedFlight Flight Paramedic Taylor Skelley. “It is a way to ensure that their sacrifices are never forgotten and their commitment to duty and honor is recognized and remembered for generations to come. It allows us, as a crew, to pay tribute and honor the memory and legacy of these fallen heroes who selflessly put themselves in harm’s way to protect others.” 

As part of its trek across the country, the Moving Honors procession traveled from Summerdale, AL to Navarre Beach, FL on July 14. Life Flight 1 flew over the procession as it moved through Escambia County, and Okaloosa MedFlight accompanied it over Okaloosa County. Each aircraft had three crew members on board, with additional off-duty crew members attending the ceremony in Santa Rosa County. The nationwide procession started in Seattle, WA on July 5 and will end in Arlington, VA on July 20. 

The highly trained flight nurses and paramedics onboard the Life Flight and Okaloosa MedFlight aircraft are equipped to transport pediatric, high-risk obstetrics, cardiac, stroke, and other patients with a wide variety of critical care needs. They carry blood that can be administered in-flight for patients suffering significant blood loss and at risk for hemorrhagic shock, which causes the body’s organs to fail and can lead to death. 

Air Methods is committed to providing air medical services to all members of the communities they serve and are in-network with most major health insurance providers across the country for emergency air medical services. Additionally, their patient advocacy program works with all patients, regardless of insurance, to ensure affordability while making pre-paid air medical membership unnecessary.