On Friday, Ascension Wisconsin and Air Methods will host a memorial service to pay tribute to three colleagues lost in a medical helicopter crash on April 26. The memorial ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 8950 Cty. J, in Woodruff. The ceremony will include a presentation by the Honor Guard, reflections and a flyover. A live Facebook Webcast of the memorial will be available at https://www.facebook.com/AscensionWisconsinSpirit/ during the time of the service.
Thursday morning, a procession from Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home in Wausau passed through Lincoln County on its way to Woodruff. All of the fire departments in Lincoln County joined together to salute Greg Rosenthal-a flight paramedic and Kronenwetter firefighter who was killed in the April 26 Air Ambulance crash near Hazelhurst – by setting up on the top of each overpass as the procession came through on Hwy. 51.
“The efforts of many in our community this week have been inspirational, as we have been working to support the families of our flight crew and others impacted by this tragedy,” said Ascension spokesperson Tom Weaver. “A planning team has been hard at work developing the elements of the program, which will be a fitting tribute to those we have lost. We anticipate the program to last about 90 minutes, and it will conclude with a flyover by air medical transport teams from across the state.
“We want to take this opportunity to clear up any confusion regarding the memorial service. Our first priority is to welcome anyone who has a connection to our organization. This includes clinicians, associates, volunteers, EMS and public safety partners, board members, patients, donors or anyone in the community who desires to attend and pay tribute with us.
“We are expecting a significant turnout from our EMS and public safety partners from across the state, who will provide a key presence at the memorial service. Again, our goal is to welcome anyone, and we have arranged for an overflow space in the church’s outdoor cathedral, where attendees will be able to hear the service and observe the flyover. There also are other overflow areas in the church. Our plan is to use every available space that we can safely utilize for this event.”
There also will be a Facebook Live Webcast of the Memorial Service on the Ascension Wisconsin Spirit Medical Transport Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/AscensionWisconsinSpirit/
The Howard Young Foundation is using the Helping Hands fund for anyone wishing to donate to benefit the families of the Spirit team affected by this tragedy. One hundred percent (100%) will go to the affected families. To donate, please visit the foundation’s website at www.howardyoungfoundation.org or call the office at 715-439-4005. Gifts may also be mailed to Howard Young Foundation, P.O. Box 470, Woodruff, WI 54568. Please make checks payable to Howard Young Foundation – Spirit.