Marty Gordon
A national traveling tribute to EMS agencies and their fallen members made a stop this past week in Christiansburg.
The United Responder Shield was placed temporarily next to a local monument in front of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office.
The United Responder Shield is a seven-foot, 300-pound tribute to first responders. The philosophy behind the symbolism of the United Responder Shield is to pay homage to all responders, those who sacrificed and those who continue to safeguard all those in need.
The visit came just a few days after the 20th anniversary of the death of Montgomery County Deputy Eric Sutphin and a security guard at Lewis Gale Montgomery Hospital. Both made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the community. The two were tragically killed during the escape and manhunt for prisoner, William Morva who overpowered a deputy while receiving medical treatment at the hospital. Security guard Derrick McFarland was shot during the escape and then Sutphin was shot when he encountered Morva along the Huckleberry Trail.
The United Responder Shield was onsite at the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office as part of a special memorial ceremony honoring the local responder community and commemorating the 10th anniversary of the NRV911 Authority.
The Authority was established to consolidate emergency dispatch services across Montgomery County. Before its creation, individual local law enforcement and public safety agencies operated their own separate dispatch teams. The transition officially took place July 1, 2016.
The United Responder Shield honors all responders and branches of the military.
