The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 on New York City and Washington, D.C. have had a significant impact on every town or city in the United States. Ten years later, the nation remembers those who lost their lives and those first responders who helped save even more lives through their heroic measures.

“At this time of year, one thing rings true to people in our profession, and that is we have the utmost respect for anyone in the emergency medical field, our devoted police officers, firemen, rescue squads and military men and women who give their all every day for someone else’s safety and freedom,” said Tri-City Rescue Squad Captain and LifeCare EMS Paramedic Stephanie Vanover. “Sept. 11 is a very humbling day — one people should never forget. We may not have known the first responders who rushed into the Twin Towers, with the purest of hearts and a desire to help those in need, but we do know that these men and women perform their duties not knowing if this would be their last act of bravery. They went in not knowing that morning, when they kissed their husband or wife or child goodbye, that it would be the last time.

“People need to realize these first responders gave their all just like each one of us here in Harlan County give and sacrifice every day for the greater good of others — total strangers, but people we care about nonetheless. So on this tenth anniversary, we honor our true heroes and hope God continues to shine his guiding light and blessings on every first responder all over this wonderful land we live in.”

LifeCare EMS, in Lynch owned and operated by Darrel Vanover, Stephanie’s father, began in 1990 after Darrel and his family purchased Johnson Funeral Home when the prior owner, Aileen Johnson, passed away.

“LifeCare EMS was the first BLS (basic life support) conforming ambulance service in the county,” said Vanover. “The difference in a conforming service is it provides a fully-equipped ambulance with state certified and licensed personnel on staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week for a profit.”

Vanover said in 2000, LifeCare EMS decided to upgrade their services with paramedics, which made their service ALS (advanced life support).

“This gave our patients a better chance of surviving a medical or traumatic illness or injury,” said Vanover. “In 2003-2004 LifeCare EMS purchased several buildings on Eula Grey Street in Harlan and added more units to their license, through the state, in an effort to provide emergency care to all the areas of the county. Our goal has always been to provide safety and well-being to those in need of medical or ambulance services. So, please take time on Sept. 11 to stop a moment and remember all our first responders and especially those who lost their lives doing what they loved and what we still love and do.”