BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A parade of more than 50 ambulances pulled into Fenway Park on Wednesday afternoon to celebrate Emergency Medical Service front line workers during National EMS Week.
The 'Convoy of Champions' included ambulances from all over the state, representing more than 20,000 paramedics, EMTs, and 911 dispatchers. They traveled along the Turnpike in a convoy from UMass Medical Center in Worcester to Boston, surrounded by state police with their lights flashing the whole way.
One inside Fenway, the ambulances lined the the perimeter of the iconic field.
The EMS professionals watched a flyover from two medical helicopters, and video tributes from several big names including the Boston Red Sox, Gov. Charlie Baker, Mayor Marty Walsh and Attorney General Maura Healey.
"You make our communities safer and stronger, you make our people better, and you help people stay safe," said Gov. Baker. "I thank you for all that you do... I'm glad we got the chance to celebrate you this week."
The Massachusetts Ambulance Association said the Commonwealth's EMS professionals have been "crucial in responding to the current COVID-19 pandemic," and that Massachusetts has been "among the nation’s hardest hit states, experiencing the third most deaths and fourth most cases of the novel coronavirus."
As the ambulances came down the Pike, two boys stood on the overpass and cheered, holding baseballs they wanted the EMT's and Paramedics to sign. "They're heroes!" one boy told WBZ NewsRadio.
WBZ NewsRadio's Karyn Regal reports:
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(Photo: Boston_EMS/Twitter)