June 21, 2008 MR 08-17 [Georgetown, DE] - Thousands of family members, friends, co-workers, fellow emergency responders, public officials and citizens gathered in Georgetown, DE, today to say their final farewells to a local hero, Paramedic Stephanie L. Callaway, who passed away days earlier while serving the community she knew and loved.

An honor guard led a flag-draped casket and dozens of medical units, fire trucks, ambulances, police cruisers and other emergency vehicles from across the eastern United States in a miles-long procession through the streets of Georgetown. As onlookers paid their final respects to Paramedic Callaway, the procession made its way by the Sussex County Emergency Medical Services headquarters building. There, the Georgetown Fire Company siren sounded and a radio dispatch symbolized Paramedic Callaway answering her “last alarm.”

The procession moved to Delaware Technical & Community College, where Paramedic Callaway was honored with a flyover by the Delaware State Police and Delaware LifeNet helicopters. Mourners then gathered inside the Carter Partnership Center to remember Paramedic Callaway, her love of life and family, as well as her dedication to public service and to the community.

Paramedic Callaway, at 31, committed nearly half of her life to public service, starting at age 17 as a volunteer firefighter/EMT, then as a police dispatcher, and finally as a Sussex County paramedic.

“This is the first line-of-duty death for Sussex County EMS in its 18-year history, and it is by far the toughest day most of us have or will ever face as public servants,” said SCEMS Director Glenn H. Luedtke. “The outpouring of support, from the emergency services community, State and local officials, area businesses, and the public, has truly touched us and helps us cope with this incredible loss.”

Paramedic Callaway, a nearly five-year veteran of SCEMS, was tragically lost in the line of duty Tuesday, June 17, 2008, while tending to a patient en route to the hospital. The patient also tragically passed away when the ambulance conducting the hospital transport struck a row of trees in an attempt to avoid a deer in the roadway.

In addition to her duties responding to emergency calls, Paramedic Callaway also served as a SCEMS field training officer and as one of the department’s public information officers. She also served as president of the Sussex County Paramedic Association.

Director Luedtke said while the SCEMS staff is grieving, and will continue to do so, “our thoughts, prayers and support will be with Stephanie’s family in the weeks and months ahead.”

Those wishing to make donations in memory of Paramedic Callaway are asked to direct their contributions to the following organizations:

• Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary of Sussex County, PO Box 430, Nassau, DE 19969; or
• Delaware Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Sussex Chapter, 22198 DuPont Boulevard, Georgetown, DE 19947.

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