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State Symbols

The official state symbols represent the cultural heritage and natural treasures of each state or the entire United States

Virginia Symbols

Virginia State Emergency Medical Services Museum

"To the Rescue"

Roanoke, Virginia

Adopted in 1994

§ 7.1-40.2:1. Official emergency medical services museum.
"To The Rescue," located in the City of Roanoke, is hereby designated the official emergency medical services museum of the Commonwealth.

(1994, cc. 33, 220.) Commonwealth

To the Rescue, the only permanent national museum dedicated to volunteer lifesaving, brings an international spotlight to Roanoke as the birthplace of the rescue squad movement. It was adopted as Virginia's State Emergency Medical Services Museum.

Julian Stanley Wise never forgot when, as a 9-year-old Roanoker, he stood helplessly by as two men drowned when their canoe capsized on the Roanoke River. He vowed then that he would organize a group of volunteers who could be trained in lifesaving. He did.

In 1928 he and his crew of N&W Railway workers became the first volunteer rescue squad in America to use lifesaving, rescue and first aid techniques on victims. Later, they were the first to use iron lungs during the polio epidemics that struck the country. They pioneered the Nielson method of lifesaving and modern-day cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Famous museum expert Conover Hunt, a Virginia native whose major project was The Sixth Floor, the JFK Museum in Dallas, oversaw the creation of the exhibit, which includes dramatic hands-on interactive videos and displays. The quality and brilliance shows. The exhibit includes artifacts from 31 states and three countries. To the Rescue also houses the VA Hall of Fame. Additionally, exhibits include the National EMS Memorial, recognizing 99 men and women from 30 states who gave their lives while saving others. Hours of operation are 10 AM to 9 PM Monday through Saturday and 1 to 6 PM Sunday. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for

To the Rescue National Museum
Tanglewood Mall
4428 Electric Rd.
S.W., Roanoke
(540) 776-0364

State Symbols

State symbols represent things that are special to a particular state.

symbol \ˈsim-bəl\
noun

Etymology:
in sense 1, from Late Latin symbolum, from Late Greek symbolon, from Greek, token, sign; in other senses from Latin symbolum token, sign, symbol, from Greek symbolon, literally, token of identity verified by comparing its other half, from symballein to throw together, compare, from syn- + ballein to throw — more at devil
Date: 15th century

1: Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible.