EMS is usually all about the moment. Thinking about your last patient could distract you from what’s happening to the person lying on the stretcher in front of you right now. Worrying too much about the next call isn’t too helpful, when you have no idea what it might bring. But the past holds immense lessons—whether it’s the experience of the people who train us or the struggles and triumphs from EMS’s earliest days.

This year, as we recognize the 50th anniversary of the first National EMS Week, we honor those who came before us, especially those who challenged the status quo and raised the bar for all of us. And at the same time, we look forward, building on their efforts and committing ourselves to forge a future for the next generation of EMS professionals to serve their communities.