In this episode of the EMS One-Stop podcast, host Rob Lawrence revisits an issue close to the heart of every EMS professional: creating a permanent National EMS Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Rob is joined by Tony O’Brien and James Robinson from the National EMS Memorial Foundation to provide a clear, candid update on where the project stands, why it matters, and what still needs to be done.
From the Weekend of Remembrance to the dream of a year-round place of solace and reverence in the nation’s capital, this conversation lays out the long road from idea to reality — and why EMS, as James puts it, truly deserves this.
Tony and James walk listeners through the 24-step federal Commemorative Works Act process, the hard work of narrowing 312 potential sites down to three, and the current push to reauthorize the Foundation’s federal authority through House Resolution 2196 and Senate Bill 2546.
They explain the preferred site in front of the Hubert H. Humphrey Building (HHS), the partnership with MIT’s School of Architecture and Urban Risk Lab on a powerful design, and the practical realities of funding, sponsorship and bureaucracy.
Most importantly, they end with a clear call to action for the EMS community: contact your elected officials, donate what you can, and help spread the word so that a permanent memorial to EMS can finally take its place in Washington, D.C.
Memorable quotes
- “We deserve this. We deserve it. And we’re out there doing amazing work for our fellow Americans every day.” — James Robinson
- “The process really is governed by the Commemorative Works Act, which is a law that governs all memorials and commemorative works in the Washington, D.C. environs.” — James Robinson
- “That’s one of the things we were hoping that the listeners can help us with is to get more people to sign, more of their elected officials to sign on as co-sponsors in support of House Resolution 2196.” — James Robinson
- “This is one of those times where I think we have to advocate for ourselves and as a community of practice across the country … this is one of those causes that I think is worth joining.” — James Robinson
- “Every year, we saw the families and the loved ones and the coworkers of the fallen. And every year, we said, you know, someone should really do something more. There should be something that people can visit every day of the year.” — Tony O’Brien
- “So this process to get from 312 to three was extensive, and there was there’s a massive data sharing points that go along with the criteria that we had, it had to have a place where you could have some solitude … it had to have some reverence.” — Tony O’Brien
- “So the authorization that was signed in ’18 expired during the most recent shutdown. So where we are at the moment is, we have bills on the House and in the Senate to reauthorize us to keep doing the work.” — Tony O’Brien
- “Three things. There’s 3 things. One is, as James just said, if you contact your representatives and ask them to support HR 2196, and your senators and ask them to support Senate Bill 2546. That’s the first thing. Second thing, we’re going to need money … And the third thing is spread the word.” — Tony O’Brien
- “All three organizations, the service, the bike ride and the foundation — we are all we’re all in the same sandbox, so to speak, but different ways of doing it … but it’s all in a mission to honor the service.” — Tony O’Brien
- “I’ve had the opportunity to visit the police memorial in Washington, D.C., and I have to say it is magnificent … but that said, the memorial, the reverence, the feeling, the setup, the location is amazing, but not so much for us. In fact, we have nothing at all.” — Rob Lawrence
- “So big sponsors, if you’re listening, the request is inbound at some point … there will be a point where you have an opportunity to sponsor, to support, to be a part of something that’s going to be permanent and will mean a lot to everybody.” — Rob Lawrence
Additional resources
- EMS Memorial
- EMS Memorial Bills:
- 2025 National EMS Weekend of Honor recognizes 29 fallen EMS workers
- ‘Never forgotten’: 2025 Moving Honors procession honors 29 EMS providers lost in the line of duty
Episode timeline
00:44 – Rob introduces the episode, sets the scene for a revisit of the National EMS Memorial effort, and welcomes guests Tony O’Brien and James Robinson.
01:30 – Tony and James share their backstories.
03:53 – Tony explains the origins of the Foundation at the Weekend of Remembrance/Weekend of Honor and the realization that EMS needs a permanent memorial people can visit year-round.
06:54 – James outlines the Commemorative Works Act, the 24-step process, and how the Foundation has reached step 15-16 over roughly 15 years.
07:54 – Tony details the grueling site-selection work: visiting 312 sites, environmental and noise studies, traffic and solitude considerations, and narrowing to three candidate locations.
10:48 – James describes the need for an Act of Congress to begin, Congressman Stephen Lynch’s early sponsorship, and the 2018 authorization that started a 7-year clock — complicated by the pandemic and federal shutdowns.
13:12 – Tony explains how the initial authorization expired, the need for reauthorization and the most recent Senate subcommittee hearing on federal lands where James testified.
16:41 – James and Tony frame the new bills: Senate Bill 2546 and House Resolution 2196, their bipartisan sponsors and the push for more co-sponsors.
19:49 – Tony lays out the three-point call to action: contact Congress, donate via EMSMemorial.org, and follow/share @EMSMemorial on social media.
23:06 – Tony describes the three remaining sites and why Independence Ave. & 3rd St SW, in front of HHS, is the preferred location.
24:42 – Tony highlights the pro-bono design work by MIT’s School of Architecture and Urban Risk Lab, and the deep engagement with providers, families and survivors.
26:32 – James explains the historical nexus of EMS with HEW/HHS and why the Humphrey Building plaza offers the right reverence, proximity to the Capitol and connection to EMS history.
29:01 – Tony and James discuss next steps: reauthorization first, then finalizing site and design to approach major sponsors with clear answers on location, look and cost — while acknowledging the project has been bootstrapped so far.
32:03 – Tony reassures donors: the Foundation is a 501(c)(3), the board are all volunteers with only necessary professional services paid from donations.
33:13 – Tony gives shout-outs to the National EMS Memorial Service and the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride, and explains how the three organizations’ missions align.
37:12 – Rob recaps the journey, reinforces the call to action, and closes the show with thanks to Tony and James and a reminder to visit EMSMemorial.org and like/subscribe to EMS One-Stop.
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