Waynesboro First Aid Crew

Please join WFAC in congratulating a professional healthcare provider and “nurse legend”- Jim Miller, RN, CFRN, BSN, NR-P, Flight Nurse, and AirCare 5 Base Supervisor of PHI Air Medical who has served the Shenandoah Valley as a quality nurse, paramedic, and educator for many years. Jim is a true professional who’s shown by example that excellence is something to aim for every day. He has shown what the true meaning of dedication, professionalism, and loyalty is by his strong commitment given toward caring for others. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise with so many EMS providers! Congratulations Jim and best wishes on your well deserved retirement! 🎉👨🏻‍⚕️⚕️🚁🚨

Dear Friends,

After 21 unforgettable years as a flight nurse at AirCare 5, I’m retiring today. It’s hard to put into words what this journey has meant to me. To my coworkers and teammates: thank you for being my second family. This profession demands skill, courage, and heart—but it is the teams we build and the lives we touch that make it truly meaningful. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the very best; and I am endlessly grateful for every lesson, every challenge, and every moment shared. We’ve shared challenges, victories, long nights, and moments that tested and strengthened us all. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to stand beside. To everyone I’ve met along the way; patients, partners, and colleagues thank you for allowing me to be part of your stories. You’ve taught me resilience, compassion, and the true meaning of service. I leave this career incredibly grateful and humbled. I will miss the work, but most of all, I’ll miss the people. Take care of each other and keep doing the amazing work that makes such a difference every day.

Sincerely,

Jim

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Jim, Congratulations on a stunning career as a flight nurse. We have been so lucky to have your steady leadership over the last 21 years. You have helped shape AirCare 5 into a beacon of hope for the Shenandoah Valley—we all thank you for your courage and expertise. May your retirement be as incredible as your career with PHI Air Medical. We promise to keep the mission going 🚁

Please join us in congratulating Firefighter Josh Major from the City of Waynesboro Fire Department on his successful firefighter career and well deserved retirement! 🎉👏 Josh you’ve spent your career putting out fires and saving lives, but your impact on the EMS community will never be forgotten. 🚑 Thank you for your dedication and strong commitment toward saving lives and protecting property throughout the Waynesboro community! Happy Retirement!! 🎉🧑🏻‍🚒🚒🚨

We would like to congratulate Firefighter Josh Major on his well-deserved retirement, which became effective today.

Josh began his journey with our department as a volunteer and was hired full-time in November 1999. For more than two decades, he has demonstrated unwavering dedication to the fire service, the department, and the citizens of Waynesboro.

From the beginning, Josh distinguished himself as a committed firefighter who continually sought to expand his training and knowledge. His accomplishments include earning an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science from J. Sargent Reynolds and completing numerous certifications and specialized training throughout his career.

Throughout his service with the department, in addition to his daily responsibilities, Josh served on several committees and helped develop the specifications for multiple engines and the ladder truck. Josh has always been known in our department for his exceptional attention to detail, whether maintaining apparatus, caring for equipment, or supporting station maintenance.

We extend our sincere appreciation to Josh for his many years of dedicated service. We wish him the very best as he enters this next chapter of his life.

The members of the Waynesboro First Aid Crew mourn the loss of a cherished member of our family. It is with deep regret and profound soundness to announce the loss of James Halbert “Jim” Duff, Sr., WFAC Life Member on Saturday, May 16, 2026, whose life was defined by service, dedication, and compassion. 💔

Jim devoted himself to helping others, both professionally and as a volunteer. After a successful career at DuPont in Waynesboro, he continued his commitment to care by serving as an Advanced Life Support provider with Augusta Health Transportation Services. Yet it was through his volunteer service with Waynesboro First Aid Crew, beginning in November 1973, that Jim made an especially lasting mark on our organization and community.

Over the years, Jim answered countless calls, often balancing volunteer duty with full-time work and family life. He advanced his emergency medical training from first aid and CPR to EMT, EMT-Shock Trauma Technician, and EMT-Intermediate—demonstrating both his drive for excellence and his deep sense of responsibility to those in need.

Jim’s contributions extended far beyond patient care. He served WFAC in leadership roles including President and Treasurer, worked on multiple committees, and represented the organization in competition, helping earn first-place honors at the Virginia Association of Rescue Squads annual convention. His many years of faithful service earned him life membership, but his true legacy lies in the respect, admiration, and gratitude of all who served beside him.

To many, Jim was more than a provider, he was a mentor, a leader, and a friend. He encouraged younger members, set a steady example, and treated others with kindness and humility. His influence reached far beyond our station walls and touched the broader EMS and public safety community throughout Waynesboro and beyond.

Jim will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to others, his quiet strength, and the generous spirit with which he served. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Betty, his children, and all who loved him.

There is no greater purpose than service to others. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Your legacy will endure in the lives you touched, and in the example, you set for all who follow. With heavy hearts, your friends and WFAC family say, “We will take it from here, Brother. Rest in peace.” 🚑❤️💙

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at Waynesboro First Aid Crew, 201 West Broad Street, Waynesboro, VA. A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 29, 2026, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 301 Sheppard Court, Waynesboro, VA.

Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 230 Frontier Drive in Staunton is in charge of his arrangements. A full obituary is available at https://www.coffmanfuneralhome.net/obituaries/james-duff-sr

Thank you to Tiger Fuel Company for the sandwiches and water! We really appreciate it!!!

Thank you to Dani’s Pizza for supplying our crew with dinner last night!!!! It was delicious!

Thank you Plaza Antigua for supplying our crew members with dinner tonight for EMS Appreciation week! The food was delicious!

Join us on Monday, May 4th at 7:00 PM (dinner at 6:30) for a presentation dealing specifically with the mental health and stress capacity of first responders...and may the 4th be with you.

The Waynesboro Police Department has partnered with our host, Martins Grocery Store for our annual Drug-Take-Back Day. The event will be held at Martins, 437 Tiffany Drive, Waynesboro, VA 22980, Tomorrow, April 25, 2026 from 10:00AM-2:00PM.

• Please, no intravenous solutions, injectables, or needles.

Unused or expired prescription drugs, medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse.
Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision.
The non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second to only ma*****na as the most common form of drug abuse in America.

🚨 Successful rescues involve collaborative, multi-agency efforts. This story is a true epitome of a successful rescue! Great job to all the emergency first responders involved in this successful rescue! 🌟💫 🚓🚒🚑