On February 21, 2026, Donna Laird was presented the prestigious Linda Dousa Lifetime Achievement Award during the Annual Banquet and Installation of Officers at Abingdon Fire Company – MD.
Named in memory of Linda Dousa, the award recognizes an EMS clinician whose lifelong leadership, service, and dedication strengthen both the department and the community it serves.
Since joining Abingdon in 1995, Donna has demonstrated unwavering commitment in every role she has held — serving as a clinician, Officer, President, Vice President, and Chair of the Board. Over the course of her service, she has responded to more than 6,000 EMS calls, including over 3,400 responses with Abingdon alone.
Her dedication to patient care, mentorship, and organizational leadership has left a lasting impact on the department and those she has served alongside.
Pictured with Donna are Bill Dousa of Abingdon Fire Company and Paul Chizmar, Co-Chair of the EMS Committee of the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association.
The evening also celebrated additional members for their outstanding contributions:
- Christina Singleton — EMS Person of the Year
- Gary Arnold Jr. — Fire Person of the Year
- Zamar Delaney — Rookie of the Year
We congratulate all of the members recognized that evening and thank them for their continued commitment to serving our community.