Vilonia community holds vigil for crash victims
The crew of the Air Evac Lifeteam based in Vilonia that went down in a helicopter early Tuesday morning will never be forgotten. However, they will be missed, said members of the Vilonia community at a vigil held Wednesday night.
“The whole community feels the loss,” said Lt. Jeremy Pugh of the Velvet Ridge Fire Department, prior to the beginning of the memorial held at the Air Evac base in Vilonia. “The EMS community across the state is feeling the loss. We are all in mourning along with the Air Evac Lifeteam.”
Pugh was among the more than 200 gathered for the vigil, sponsored by the Vilonia Fire Department, to honor pilot Ken Robertson, flight paramedic Gayla Gregory and flight nurse Kenneth Meyer Jr. who lost their lives in the crash.
Uniformed firemen, paramedics, police, ambulance personnel and soldiers stood in the audience as well as residents in jeans and church attire. Tears ran down the cheeks of many while the three were eulogized.
Vilonia Fire Chief Keith Hillman opened the vigil by saying he was “overwhelmed with the turnout.”
Greig Caswell, pastor of Centerpoint Freewill Baptist Church in Vilonia, led a prayer asking God to provide comfort.
“Only you can help us through at a time like this,” he said. “Wrap your arms around us.”
Faulkner County Judge Preston Scroggin detailed his association with the Air Evac team, saying the contacts began in 2002.
“Ken (Meyers) was one of the first people here,” he said. “We were friends. We grew up in a similar community, and we shared a desire to help.”
With the loss of the three, he said, “We lost friends, co-workers and valued servants of our community. We are a saddened community.”
Referencing the entire Air Evac Lifeteam, he said, they dine with us in our restaurants. They shop with us. We look forward to seeing the bird come in. “They are our family.”
While the air over Vilonia is silent at this time, he said, “We will recover and move on.”
Several others also spoke, and a couple of songs were sung, including “You are in the Arms of the Angel,” by Morgan Hensley. The audience joined in on “Amazing Grace,” and candles were lit.
Prior to the ceremony, many spoke about their relationships with one or all three of the fallen. Hillman, who said he was good friends with Meyers, shared that he heard about the crash at 5 a.m. He raced to the fire station located by the Air Evac base. He said he took inventory of the three vehicles parked at the base.
“His (Meyers) car was here,” he said, adding that he raced inside and “he wasn’t in the building.”
“I didn’t think it was his shift,” Hillman added. “I just broke down. He is part of our family.”
It was said Robertson served twice as a pilot in Iraq.
Flight paramedic Matt McIntosh said “Ken Meyers was one of the best flight nurses I’ve ever flown with.” He also said “Kenny was a very fine pilot.”
Chaplain Eddie Davis of the Springdale Fire Department concluded the vigil saying the Air Evac Lifeteam members did not know his name, they did not know his situation but they raced to save his life.
“God Bless the ones who have chosen to be their brother’s keeper,” he offered.
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this was truly a sad occurance for community, these gentlemen will be missed.