Sen. Hickman presents legislative sentiment to Maine EMS award winner, discovers past connection

AUGUSTA — On Wednesday, May 21, Senator Craig Hickman, D-Winthrop, presented a legislative sentiment to Karl Hatlemark of Readfield to recognize his receipt of a 2025 Maine EMS Excellence Award. Sen. Hickman honored Karl following the Maine EMS Awards Ceremony in the Hall of Flags at the Maine State House. It was also revealed that Karl had helped save Sen. Hickman’s life in 2018.

“It was a surreal experience to meet one of the men who helped save my life nearly a decade ago,” said Sen. Hickman. “I have no other words but to say, ‘Thank you,’ to Mr. Hatlemark and all of the EMS personnel throughout our state who put their lives on the line every day to save others. May we remember and honor their service every day.”

The Maine EMS Awards are presented annually by Maine EMS as part of their National Emergency Medical Services Week programming. The awards conferred to these recipients recognize the outstanding contributions and achievements of our EMS clinicians, partners and organizations throughout Maine.

Karl Hatlemark and Sen. Hickman had met once before the awards ceremony, in a LifeFlight helicopter in July 2018. Following an incident on his farm that left him with severe burn injuries, Sen. Hickman was airlifted to the hospital. Karl Hatlemark served as one of the pilots. When Karl shared this at the ceremony last week, Sen. Hickman was profoundly grateful to be able to thank Karl in person for helping to save his life.

Senator Craig Hickman of Winthrop and Karl Hatlemark with Karl’s legislative sentiment and Maine EMS award in the Hall of Flags on May 21

###