The sun was high at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26, and the heat penetrated creating an unseasonably warm day on Centre Avenue in front of the Hill District Federal Credit Union. However it did not stop the 75 plus people from gathering around to witness the unveiling of the Freedom House Ambulance Service plaque.
The crowd consisted of members of the press, civic leaders, University of Pittsburgh officials, and City of Pittsburgh EMS officials along with members of the community as part of the continued Hill House Association 50th anniversary celebrations. This was a day of tribute that not only included the unveiling, but also a reception and screening of the documentary, “Freedom House Street Saviors” which depicted the history of this Country’s first Mobile Emergency Unit, which started right in Pittsburgh’s Hill District.
“We are honored to use this time to recognize and pay tribute the first 40 men and women who were trained in this very specialized field, and who blazed this trail at a time of great need in the Black Community—they stepped up and became a part of history of this City and this Country that has left an indelible mark—we are happy to add this to the list of distinguished activities marking 50 years of Hill House Service,” said Cheryl Hall Russell, president and CEO of the Hill House Association.
Speakers at the occasion included, Mike Huss, deputy director of Public Safety, Phil Hallen, president emeritus of the Falk Foundation who had been a former ambulance driver, and who, along with Morton Coleman, professor emeritus, University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, was an early visionary for Freedom House; Mark Bocian, acting EMS Chief, City of Pittsburgh, and John Moon, former assistant EMS Chief, for Pittsburgh. All expressed their thanks and gratitude for Freedom House and for the groundwork they laid in making the City of Pittsburgh EMS Service what it is today. Moon said “This is a very emotional day for me, one I’ve waited for a very long time”.
Additional speakers were Walt Brown, former assistant director of Operations for Freedom House and George McCrary III both of whom were original members of the first Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) class taught by Dr. Peter Safar, known as the “Father” of Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation.
Sixty-Six year old McCray said, “I remember the intensive training we received; it was eight hours a day for eight months; Dr. Peter Safar really put us through the rigors—we learned anatomy and physiology in those first eight months and we went on to spend a significant amount of time in every department of the hospital in preparation to be on the truck.
“This event today is so important because it seems we’ve been recognized everywhere except Pittsburgh—I’m glad to be around to see this day get here.”
“Freedom House Film maker, Gene Starzenski, reiterated that he had been waiting “40 years” for this to happen. He spoke of the awards and recognition that Freedom House has received such as the Public Safety Award from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Distinguish Service Award during the National Association of State EMS Officials Annual Meeting in Nashville, September 2013 among others. But he was quick to step aside and give the remaining former EMT’s the spotlight.
Terri Baltimore, director of Community Development, coordinator of the day’s activities shared that this recognition holds great distinction for a couple reasons, one being that in spite of the recognition and stature it has received in so many other places, it seems it had been forgotten, locally.
Additionally, it is important to note that the curriculum for standard EMS training across the board was based on that which was created for Freedom House by Dr. Nancy Caroline of the University of Pittsburgh.
“I’m sure we’ll have a full house at the screening; and that’s good because people need to know about this work, and that the men and women contributing to the success of this ambulatory service came right from this neighborhood,” Baltimore said. “The plaque along with the documentary are two ways of keeping keep this story alive.
“This is also about the African-American youth, this film will be shown in schools, and hopefully they will make the connection when they see Freedom House Emblem on the City EMS vehicles in Pittsburgh, and can be proud to know that someone who looks like them made this possible.”
After the reception and screening of the film, a community discussion was held and the former participants shared their perspectives of the time with the audience.
(For more information on the documentary “Freedom House Street Saviors”, check out the following web sites; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eEa2d9kpek&feature=youtu.be.)
