Tribute Memorial

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF COMANDOS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES TO SAVE THEIR FELLOW MAN WOMAN and CHILD.LODD's -Line of Duty Deaths-

YOLANDA ELIZABETH RAMIREZ HENOE

In 1984 during a heavy rainy season,the Comandos started to evacuate the marginal community of colonia Nicaragua due to flooding of the Garobo river.  At that time Yolanda was brigade chief and was in charge of operations in the area.  When she arrived to the site two people approached her asking for help and telling her that a child was trapped inside a house.  

Yolanda entered the house but when she was returning toward the door with the child in her arms two giant dams of water broke making the river rise. Just as she handed the child to other rescuers, a mudslide carried her away with the river current.  Six hours later we found Yolanda´s body twenty five kilometers down river near the community of agua caliente. 

The Comandos de Salvamento will always remember Yolanda for what she stood for in the name of bravery and courage and for offering her life to save her fellow man and fulfilling her duty to God and her country.

ALBERTO GUZMAN

Alberto lost his life due to an accident on Troncal Del Norte highway while attending to a traffic accident victim.  The Comandos de Salvamento will always remember Alberto for what he stood for in the name of   bravery and courage and for offering his life to save his fellow man and fulfilling his duty to God and his country.

SALVADOR LOPEZ

Jiboa River, Costa del Sol

Eighteen year old Salvador Lopez  lost his life trying to save 21 year old Marta Olmedo and Dr. Vides Lemus who had lost control of his car, and had driven off the road into a river. Salvador was nearby and jumped in to save them from the sinking car and tremendous water pressure. 

He managed to save Vides, but in the process of trying to save Marta; he was swept away by a strong current.   Salvador was found 70 meters downstream from where the accident happened. 

The Comandos de Salvamento will always remember Salvador for what he stood for in the name of bravery and courage and for offering his life to save his fellow man and fulfilling his duty to God and his country.

JOSE EDGARDO PALMA 2001

Evelyn Granados
El Diario de Hoy

San Miguel. Little Édgar is forty days old today. His father, José Edgardo Palma, “was crazy with happiness ” with his new son. Unfortunately, he will not be able to see his son grow up..

Ayer fue sepultado en Chinameca, el cuerpo de José Edgardo Palma, instructor de rescate de Comandos de Salvamentos que murió el lunes al ser arrastrado por el Río Grande cuando rescataba un cadáver. Foto digital Evelin Granados

Palma is a rescue worker with Comandos de Salvamento who perished while trying to recover a cadaver in the río Grande. Two of his children are now orphans-his new son and a daughter of nine years.

Yesterday was the funeral. Edgar was carried by his mother Érika, who, with tears on her face, repeated; “I will tell his son how brave his father was".

His body was adorned with his proud orange uniform from a Domican rescue group he worked with in Costa Rica

Below this uniform was a shirt of Comandos de Salvamento. Many members from Comandos de Salvamento arrived to the funeral to pay their respects for a fallen comrade.

They also stayed for the mass, and the burial, the velorio lasting all night long. By morning, the home was almost empty except José.

His parents, inlaws, and wife, cried together private as a family. Some neighbors arrived for some time to pay their respects.

Each one had some memories. Mercedes, the mother of José Edgardo remembered that her son was always one to serve since he was twelve years old joining up with the "Los Comandos"- soon after, he joined up with the Salvamento group.

He stayed with the comandos until his death at twenty years old.

He was able to reach the post of Mountain Rescue Instructor, and Clinic Nurse. After graduating from Highschool, he joined the PNC, NAtional Civilian Police. But his heart was with EMS and rescue and he returned to the yellow uniform of the Comandos.

Jhony Fernández, Supervisor of Comandos, remembers him as a very well trained and helpful human being,“His work was so professional that an EMS organization brought him to Costa Rica". Palma era integrante de Salud Sin Fronteras, entidad que lo había destacado en aquel país.

Fernández thinks that his rescue bretheren's death was caused by excessive weight of rescue equipment when Edgar lost his balance and was taken away by the río Grande current.

Yesterday was the burial. There were many family and rescue brothers and sisters in tears. But there was also much pride in knowing that José Edgardo had died by doing something that many forget. To serve and protect his fellow man.

The Comandos de Salvamento will always remember Salvador for what he stood for in the name of bravery and courage and for offering his life to save his fellow man and fulfilling his duty to God and his country.

If you know of any Comandos de Salvamento volunteers that served for our institution and have past away please contact us.