An eastern Kentucky paramedic and firefighter killed in the line of duty last year receives a national honor.

Paintsville EMS Director and Assistant Fire Chief Christa Burchett was one of 122 names added to the National Fallen Firefighter's Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland on Sunday.

Family and friends say Burchett died doing what she loved, helping people.

Firefighters at the Paintsville department are glad she is receiving the national recognition for giving her life to help someone.

The Paintsville Fire Department lost assistant chief and former EMS Director Christa Burchett a year and a half ago, but her co-workers say they think of her everyday.

Burchett died in January, 2008 while helping a pregnant woman into an ambulance. A coal truck slid on the icy roads and killed both women and the unborn child.

“She lost her life in the line of duty doing what she loved to do for the people she cared about,” Captain Rick Ratliff said.

Now the whole country will know her sacrifice.

On Sunday, during a special ceremony, Christa Burchett's name was added to the National Fallen
Firefighter's Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

“It's a great honor they are recognizing the ones who gave their lives in the line of duty,” Captain Ratliff said.

Five thousand people attended the ceremony. Honor Guards and Pipe Bands participated in a memorial to Burchett and the other firefighters killed in the line of duty last year. Her friends and co-workers are glad she received a national tribute.

While her name is added to the fallen firefighter's memorial, her friends and co-workers have their own memorial to her in the Paintsville Fire Department and they hope the nation will not either.

Firefighters participating in the ceremony in Maryland also made a special presentation to Burchett's family.