To commemorate its 40th anniversary, Memorial Hermann Life Flight® has dedicated 40 days to giving thanks to the Houston community for supporting the award-winning air ambulance program over the years. Today, a few former patients and crew members returned the favor by coming together to show their appreciation for the lifesaving service that was the first of its kind in Texas, and the second such program in the nation.
Their personal stories are featured in a poignant new video that reflects on Life Flight’s history, its pioneering role as a trailblazer in trauma care and the countless lives that have been touched by Life Flight crew members over four decades.
Memorial Hermann is proud to unveil the video exactly one year after the passing of legendary trauma surgeon Dr. James H. "Red" Duke, whose visionary leadership led to the creation of Life Flight on Aug. 1, 1976.
This special video is the latest observance in a weeks-long anniversary campaign called “40 Years of Life Flight, 40 Days of Thanks.” The celebration has included: an official proclamation from Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s office declaring Aug. 1, 2016 as Memorial Hermann Life Flight Day; the crew extending their thanks to area EMS partners and first responders who serve a key role in helping Life Flight retrieve Houston’s critically ill and injured patients; several meet-and-greet events at Memorial Hermann campuses throughout the Houston region; and an outpouring of support on social media from former patients and community members using the hashtag #LifeFlight40.