National EMS Memorial Service Honoree

	Anthony "Tony" Barbee AirCare North Carolina Baptist Hospital Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Tony, at the age of 45, was the lead pilot of the AirCare flight to Bluefield, West Virginia to pick up a patient for transport to North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The weather was rainy and extremely foggy on April 22, 1994, and the crew was flying by instruments. Just seven miles from the Mercer County

Airport the helicopter crashed into East River Mountain. There had been no indication the crew was having difficulties. Tony and his fellow crew members were killed.

He had many years of experience flying helicopters as a Marine in Vietnam. Tony made the transition to emergency medical services flying and joined AirCare in 1989. Since he had children of his own--Jenny and Andy--pediatric patients tugged at his heart strings the most.

Whether he was teaching helicopter safety to fire and rescue personnel or participating in NASCAR activities, Tony epitomized the "fly boy" image.

Honored 1995