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Yamel
Jager Merino, EMT-P
age 24
Yonkers, N.Y.
MetroCare Ambulance
Merino
was stationed out of MetroCare's Mount Vernon office.
She was the only MetroCare employee killed at the WTC,
and as far as we know, the only female EMS (non-fire)
responder.
Yonkers
EMT Yamel Merino killed on 9/11 gets medal 9/10/05/10/05
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Kim
Evans, friend of Ms. Merino, wanted to share
with us a personal photo of Yamel.
Thank you Kim for your contribution to this
page.
You may view the full photo at the bottom of
this page. |
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Dianna Ramirez had never met
emergency medical technician Yamel Merino, but she talked to her
every day.
Ramirez was a dispatcher with Brooklyn-based Metro Care
Ambulance who sent Merino out every day on 911 calls. Merino,
24, answered one of those calls on Tuesday morning, when word
went out that the first tower of the World Trade Center had been
hit.
She was helping the injured there when the tower collapsed.
Merino, of Yonkers, N.Y., won the company's "EMT of the
Year" award in 1999. "Oh, she was the sweetest
thing," Ramirez said. "She had the sweetest
voice."
Yonkers EMT saluted,
mourned-
some comments from the NJ
Journal
YONKERS, New York
Westchester County Executive
Andrew Spano said he never knew Merino but was humbled by her
sacrifice.
"I told Kevin his
mother will always be a hero and that we will never forget this
day," Spano said.
Merino's sister, Gabriella
Sierra, said Merino had a passion for her work — she was
honored last year as EMT of the Year by the New York State
Ambulance Association — but her true joy was her son.
"Her son meant more to
her than life itself," Sierra told a room overflowing with
mourners at the Sinatra Funeral Home on Yonkers Avenue.
Sande Santiago, who worked
closely with Merino for nearly four years, said "It was her
job, and she was looking forward to going there to help,"
Santiago said.
Ed Ortega, a colleague who
helped train Merino to become an EMT, called her a "quick
learner, ambitious, and an outstanding (EMT) who would brighten
up any room."
James O'Connor, a vice
president at MetroCare, "She was wonderful," O'Connor
said. "The type of person you'd want your daughter to grow
up to become."
Merino's closed white and
gold casket was surrounded by bouquets of flowers, a cross, a
folded American flag and an EMT baseball cap.
thejournalnews.com
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