James Miller and LCEMS Director David Grovdahl proudly display Millers award from the Stars of Life Celebration.
PDN photo by Jenny Huggins

By Jenny Huggins
News Reporter

LeFlore County EMS recently attended the Stars of Life Celebration in Oklahoma City.  
The Stars of Life is a special program.  Its sole purpose is to publicly recognize and celebrate the achievements of all people working in the selfless and heroic ambulance industry.
The Stars of Life Program seeks to honor outstanding individuals as a thank you for their service, their sacrifice and the inspiration they bring to all of us.  
The Program just as importantly seeks to honor these individuals as representatives or ambassadors of their industry so that the outside community and government agencies value the contribution they make to their neighbors every day.  
This is a time for them to stand proud of what they do and to applaud those who set examples for everyone.
This year, EMS Director David Grovdahl, nominated one of his employees for the prestigious Star award.  “What sets your Star apart from other employees,” was the question posed to Grovdahl and he replied with, “Quite Pride.  
In our industry we look for that one glimmering moment.  The one time when the person happens to be in the right place, doing the right thing and earning a positive outcome.  
We reward that individual achievement and right we should.  But, what about the person that works on the line day in and day out, gives everything he has and comes back to do it again.  
That is a true hero, a true warrior and that is James Miller.  
My first impressions of James was that he doesn’t get excited, he is stoic and reserved.  
Unlike me, he doesn’t feel the adrenaline pulsating with the flip of the siren, he is reserved and has a sense of quiet pride.  
Babe Ruth once said, ‘Never let the fear of striking out get in your way,’ I wouldn’t say that James is fearless, more thoughtful and strategic.  
He walks into a room with a command presence that draws the comfort and trust of the patient and the family.  He is willing to take on a challenge whether it is from a critically ill patient or from the leadership of our organization.  
I have challenged our team to do things that have been uncomfortable or go against the grain.  I recently changed our field training system.  
I wanted to know what natural capability that the field trainers had so I asked them to embark on this new concept without any training beforehand.  
Like a duck takes to water, James took to field training.  Almost immediately he earned the distinction of being able to clearly and impartially train and evaluate our staff.  
James has the ability to connect to people, the ability to help people with whatever it is in the life they are struggling with, James has a quiet pride.  
As far as I know, James has not run into a burning house to save a child, jumped into a lake to save someone or done anything else that is worthy of a medal and a picture on the front page of the newspaper.  
But, James has done something worthy of our praise and recognition.  James has worked hard.  James has perfected his craft.  
James has come back to work day after day, week after week and year after year.  James has cared for hundreds of patients, taken thousands of blood pressures and helped calm millions of fears.  
Watching James work is like watching a symphony.  Each section comes together, the skill, the training, the determination and the compassion, to create beautiful music that comforts and heals the patient.  
James Miller is worthy of recognition as the 2010 OKAMA Star of Life because he embodies what is best about our profession.  
He embodies the heart and soul of all EMT’s and paramedics and he is a true hero, a true warrior and he does it with quiet pride.  
I agree with Teddy Roosevelt, ‘far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing,’ and I would add, I would be willing to work hard alongside James Miller anytime.”
Miller knew that he had been nominated for the award when they made the trip to Oklahoma City.  “I was pleasantly surprised to find out I won the award,” stated Miller.  Grovdahl is very proud of Miller and thinks the best man won.