by Steven Velasquez
This morning, New Jersey's Police, Fire and EMS agencies were called into respectful action for the third time in as many weeks, to bring another young, deceased, member of service home.
Flight Paramedic Rebecca Serkey's remains arrived at JFK International Airport early this morning to make her final journey home, following a fatal MEDEVAC helicopter crash July 17, 2014 near Newkirk, New Mexico.
Rebecca (29) was a NJ Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic with Holy Name Hospital MICU in Teaneck and University Hospital EMS in Newark before following her dream and moving to New Mexico, to work with TriState CareFlight. Rebecca had also worked as an EMT for Holy Name Hospital, Teaneck, Ridgefield Ambulance Corps. and others.
Today she was brought home surrounded by those who loved, worked with and respected her. Numerous EMS agencies including:
- Montclair
- Ridgefield
- Teaneck
- University Hospital
- Jersey City Medical Center
- Holy Name Hospital
Area police and fire departments, the Fourth Watch Motorcycle Club's mother chapter, the Knight's Of Life, and a large cadre of police motorcycle units including:
- Fort Lee
- East Rutherford
- Cedar Grove
- North Haledon
- North Arlington
- Essex Fells
- Clarkstown, NY
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| Photo Credit: Dave Brierty and Lee Ruiz Fourth Watch MC |
The motor units provided an impressive and valuable escort (and some much needed safety).
The somber parade departed JFK, and due to traffic conditions on the Van Wyck Expressway, took a circuitous, but at least moving, route through Brooklyn. We crossed over the Verrazano, traversed Staten Island, then went over the Goethals Bridge before returning to NJ and making the final leg of the journey, up the NJ Turnpike into Fort Lee, where final services will take place Sunday, July 27, 2014.
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| Photo Credit: Dave Brierty and Lee Ruiz Fourth Watch MC |
Rebecca, may you rest peacefully and may God comfort your family. Till we meet again.
- Popular Bergen paramedic killed in New Mexico helicopter crash - July 17, 2014 Cliffview Pilot
