Retired Fire Chief Russ Spahn to Sing National Athem at Miller Park

Retired Greenfield Fire Chief Russ Spahn will sing the national anthem at Miller Park before the Milwaukee Brewers take on the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, Sept. 13.

Spahn’s scheduled performance is part of the Brewers’ celebration of First Responder Day.

Nikki Gonzalez, the Emergency Medical Services Education Manager for the Milwaukee County Emergency EMS Education Center will throw out the first pitch.

Before the game, the Milwaukee County EMS division is teaming up with the Milwaukee Brewers and local fire departments to mark 40 years of service. Dozens of paramedics and EMS staff from local fire departments are coming together for a Brewers tailgate party from 5-6 p.m.

As part of the day’s activities, County Executive Chris Abele and Department of Health & Human Services Director Héctor Colón will attend the tailgate. Several medical units, fire trucks, cardiac monitors and other life-saving equipment will also be on site, and a video celebrating the anniversary will be shown inside the park.

The Milwaukee County Paramedic Program began in 1973. West Allis Fire was the first department to send firefighters to the paramedic training unit. Over the last 40 years, more than 775 individuals have come through the program. 400 paramedics are currently working in 9 fire departments and on 38 paramedic units throughout the county.

MCEMS is a countywide system covering 241 square miles and serving approximately 959, 521 people.