This year's service to honor EMS personnel killed in the line of duty will remember 73 heroes -- the largest ever.

Services are set for 6 p.m. Saturday, May 24 at the First Baptist Church in Roanoke, Va.

"In addition to those who died in 2007, we are honoring people who died in incidents in previous years," said Kevin Dillard, president of the National EMS Memorial Service. NEMSMS previously waited for notifications of EMS line of duty deaths from the agencies of fallen responders. However, this year NEMSMS staff went back and researched these deaths to find those that were not reported.

The weekend events begin Friday evening when bicyclists from the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride are welcomed by family and friends of the fallen heroes. Police officers escort the group through the streets of Roanoke where they receive waves and applause.

The riders begin in Kentucky and New York City six days earlier and ride an average of 75 miles each day to arrive in Roanoke for the memorial service.

Those being honored this year include:

Joe Alvarez, Jr of East Texas Medical Center EMS, Alto, TX, who died in the line of duty in an on duty motor vehicle collision on September 13, 2006.

James C Archer of North Mississippi Medical Center, Tupelo, MS, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on January 5, 2005.

Michael Baker of Air Evac Lifeteam, West Plains, MI, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on December 30, 2007.

George Beeler of Slater Ambulance District, Slater, MO, who died in the line of duty of an on duty cardiac arrest on August 17, 2007.

Louis Berra of West County EMS & Fire Protection District, Ballwin, MO, who died in the line of duty of an on duty cardiac arrest on January 18, 2008.

Lee W Bothwell of Airlift Northwest, Seattle, WA, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on September 11, 1995.

Lance Brabham of Lifeguard Alaska, Anchorage, AK, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on December 3, 2007.

Allan W Bragwell of Air Evac Lifeteam, West Plains, MI, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on December 30, 2007.

David Eric Spencer Brooks of Aeromed, Kennewick, WA, who died in the line of duty in a medical aviation accident on January 8, 1996.

Michael Timothy Browne of Acme Delco Riegelwood Fire-Rescue, Riegelwood, NC, who died in the line of duty of injuries received in a tornado while responding to a call on November 16, 2006.