WORCESTER, Mass. – Dozens of EMS workers from across the state gathered at UMass Memorial Medical Center on Thursday for an annual parade of ambulances known as the Convoy of Champions.

The annual route from Worcester to Boston MedFlight in Bedford is part of a larger celebration of National EMS Week by the Massachusetts Ambulance Association, and paramedics like Richard Westhaven and Belle Dinning of UMass Memorial Health were grateful for the recognition. 

"I never truly expected all of this, especially the state police escort and the amount of providers and ambulances that were involved in this," Westhaven said. 

This year is the 50th annual National EMS Week, and communities across the state are recognizing their local paramedics. This year's theme is honoring the past and forging the future. 

"Really, it's awe.some to see everybody gather together and get a full ride up here as one," said Belle Dinning. "It was special."

From Northern Berkshire County to the South Shore, paramedics are often called the unsung heroes of the state, particularly by doctors who are able to save patients' lives thanks to their rapid response. Dr. Todd Ellerin, director of infectuous diseases at South Shore Health, served as a speaker for Thursday's celebration at Boston MedFlight. 

"Day in and day out, they're saving lives, arriving first on the scene. We wouldn't be able to function without them," Ellerin said. "I work in a hospital, and they're saving millions of lives every year. They don't ask for credit, they often don't get the most credit, and they deserve it."

Massachusetts Ambulance Association President Dennis Cataldo said the public often doesn't realize what goes into giving paramedics the support they deserve. 

“Whether it be the educational opportunities, the follow-up with the physicians groups, or just trying to provide critical support or mental health opportunities for our staff who have encountered a difficult call," Cataldo said. "There’s a lot that goes on beyond what people see in the field when they see an ambulance.”

Meanwhile, state lawmakers like Rep. John Mahoney are also looking to provide support with proposed legislation that would strengthen the penalties for assaulting a healthcare worker. 

"It’s just important for EMS providers and nurses, they deal with people on the front-lines and sometimes it doesn’t always go well," Mahoney said. "Sometimes, they’re in great danger providing the services they do. So we just want to back them up and make sure the people who abuse them are held to account.”

National EMS Week continues Friday with EMS Recognition Day. On Saturday, people will remember the lives lost in the profession with EMS Remembrance Day.