Public Employee Press

Memorial honors fallen EMS members



The Fire Dept. of New York honored two Emergency Medical Service members of DC 37 locals Oct. 8 in its annual memorial service at the Firemen's Memorial in Riverside Park. Some 3,000 FDNY employees, mainly uniformed Firefighters from fire stations citywide, gathered at the monument at Riverside Drive and W. 100th Street to pay tribute to their colleagues who died in 2014.

DC 37 members Luis de Peña, an 18-year veteran Emergency Medical Technician, and EMS Lieutenant Walter J. Nelson, a 32-year veteran, were honored, as were Firefighter John W. Monteverde from Engine 159 in Staten Island, who was cited four times for bravery, and Lt. Gordon Matthew Ambelas from Battalion 28 in Brooklyn.

De Peña, a member of Local 2507, was based at EMS Station 13 in Washington Heights and Nelson, a member of Local 3621, worked at Station 31 in Brooklyn and taught at the EMS Academy, where he trained many new recruits in the department – including Uniformed EMS Officers Local 3621 President Vincent A. Variale.

"Walter was an excellent teacher and a mentor to me and many others in the department," Variale said.

On the days following the 9/11 attacks, Luis de Peña spent countless hours in the rescue and recovery effort at the World Trade Center disaster site.

"Luis was an extremely dedicated person. We're all very proud to have worked with him," said Local 2507 President Israel Miranda.

"Regardless of the danger, regardless of the struggle, Luis de Peña braved the toxic clouds of dust to aid in the rescue and recovery," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. De Peña's efforts to save lives at the disaster site proved fatal 13 years later as he succumbed to disease caused by his 9/11 exposure at ground zero.

De Blasio praised the dedicated service of Lt. Nelson, whose son is an EMT, and said, "This is a family that exemplifies everything good about New York City."