Rutherford County, TN - Rutherford County Emergency Medical Service (RCEMS) received a $35,000 no match grant award from the Gary Sinise Foundation (GSF) through their First Responder Outreach Program for training and equipment.
This grant comes shortly after RCEMS Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) Taylor Hargis, and her husband U.S. Army Sergeant (Ret.), Purple Heart Recipient Joshua Hargis received a custom built home earlier this month from the R.I.S.E.- Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment program of the GSF. RCEMS Director Brian Gaither and other RCEMS members attended the home dedication and were presented with the grant presentation check for RCEMS.
U.S. Army Sergeant (Ret.) Joshua Hargis completed four deployments in Afghanistan as a Canine Handler. His unit faced an ambush during his last deployment in 2013 that resulted in the loss of four team members and his canine companion. Hargis heroically rescued a fellow Ranger and, because of that, lost both of his legs.
The Hargis family will spend their first Thanksgiving in the mortgage free, custom designed, smart home. When asked about the upcoming holiday, Taylor said, “ We will be spending Thanksgiving this year in our dream home that was made possible by the selflessness and generosity of friends, family, and perfect strangers. Our hearts could not imagine a gift this large. We are overcome with gratitude to be spending time together in a home that is free of limitations and barriers. Josh fought for our freedom and the Gary Sinise foundation gave his back to him. There really are no words to cover all we feel, “thankful” is one but certainly not enough.”
More information regarding the First Responder Outreach grant can be found at https://firstrespondergrants.
PHOTO ABOVE ARTICLE: (L-R) RCEMS Director Brian Gaither, RCEMS Captain Janna Petree-Crick, RCEMS Paramedic Beau Williams, RCEMS Paramedic Savannah Jordan, RCEMS Paramedic Shana Coggin, RCEMS Captain Chris Reed, RCEMS Paramedic Meredith Ponder, RCEMS Paramedic Ashley Welcome, RCEMS AEMT Taylor Hargis, U.S. Army Sergeant (Ret.) Josh Hargis, RCEMS AEMT Emma Wall, RCEMS AEMT Kylie Pruitt, RCEMS Assistant Director Steve Hart, RCEMS Medical Examiner Investigator Megan Whitesell, RCEMS Shift Commander Mike Johnson
