05/11/2026
Before the high-tech sirens and modern monitors, there was a group of neighbors in Roanoke who decided that no one should have to face an emergency alone.
Beginning in 1928, the Roanoke Life Saving and First Aid Crew (RLSC) served this community, creating a rich heritage of volunteerism.
The Williamson Road Life Saving Crew (WRLSC) was founded in 1939 and the Hunton Life Saving and First Aid Crew (HLSC), a pioneering all-Black membership crew, was founded in 1941.
In the mid-1980s, RLSC and WRLSC merged, creating Roanoke Emergency Medical Services (REMS), which continues - to this day – the 1928 legacy of volunteer service to the community.
The three original crews were the heartbeat of the city and REMS continues the tradition. But the most important part of our history is not recorded in a Reader’s Digest article or the news reporter’s field notes: It lives in your memories.
As we approach RLSC’s 100th Anniversary in May 2028, we are on a mission to record the "human history" of the three crews and REMS.
Did you serve with RLSC, WRLSC, HLSC or REMS? Did you have a loved one who served? Whether you served for forty years or four, your perspective and memories are vital pieces of the puzzle we are piecing together.
Ladies Auxiliary members: We need to hear from you, too. Please take a short pause from your life to share yourself with all of us and the world. It will be an honor to include your input in the final project deliverable. Help us honor the legacy!
Send your stories, photos, dates of membership, or even just a "remember when" note to our anniversary committee at [email protected]. Let us make sure the next one hundred years start with a complete picture of the heroes who got us here.
