Here's something I've never done before. I've displayed my ambulances with the National EMS Museum Foundation at EMS conferences, which are usually held in convention centers.
This week, I am displaying my M-M ambulance at the National Association of EMS Educators conference in Washington, DC. What's unusual is that it's not in a convention center, it's being held in the Regency Ballroom of the Omni Shoreham Hotel. This is one of the nicest and fanciest hotels in DC, it was built in 1930 and still looks very classy and art-deco.
Fortunately, they do have a roll-up door into the ballroom from the ground-level loading dock, so it wasn't difficult to drive it in. They put plastic on the floor while I was driving in so the car wouldn't hurt the carpet.
One most-interesting thing. When I was delivering the ambulance on Tuesday, I was met by about 10 or so guys working the loading dock. Got the usual "oohs" and "ahhs" and "What size engine is it?" and "Ghostbusters" comments. But one guy, an older African-American man, looked at it and quietly said, "That reminds me of Birmingham." He was referring to the Civil Rights protests in Birmingham, AL, in the '60's. Wow, history comes alive sometimes. And suddenly I remembered just why we restore and display our vehicles.
This week, I am displaying my M-M ambulance at the National Association of EMS Educators conference in Washington, DC. What's unusual is that it's not in a convention center, it's being held in the Regency Ballroom of the Omni Shoreham Hotel. This is one of the nicest and fanciest hotels in DC, it was built in 1930 and still looks very classy and art-deco.
Fortunately, they do have a roll-up door into the ballroom from the ground-level loading dock, so it wasn't difficult to drive it in. They put plastic on the floor while I was driving in so the car wouldn't hurt the carpet.
One most-interesting thing. When I was delivering the ambulance on Tuesday, I was met by about 10 or so guys working the loading dock. Got the usual "oohs" and "ahhs" and "What size engine is it?" and "Ghostbusters" comments. But one guy, an older African-American man, looked at it and quietly said, "That reminds me of Birmingham." He was referring to the Civil Rights protests in Birmingham, AL, in the '60's. Wow, history comes alive sometimes. And suddenly I remembered just why we restore and display our vehicles.
