PGFD PROFILE - Firefighter Supports Wounded Warrior Project

A Prince George’s County Fire Fighter has tasked himself to making a difference for an extremely worthy cause. Fire Fighter Ryan E. Aikens is a 7-year member of the Fire/EMS Department and became involved with raising funds for the Wounded Warrior Project. The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Its purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured men and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, FL.


Ryan, an Annapolis resident, whose father is a Vietnam Veteran, wanted to help war veterans in some manner and found the WWP an excellent organization to devote his time and effort. He sold specially designed T-shirts to fellow firefighters. The front and back of the shirt illustrates one soldier carrying another out of harm’s way with a IAFF logo in the background. The design is captioned, “PROUD SUPPORTER” and “LOCAL 1619 FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS SUPPORTS WOUNDED WARRIORS.” The Prince George’s County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Association IAFF Local 1619 is a co-sponsor of Ryan’s project.

With no goal in mind Ryan set out to sell as many t-shirts as possible and donate the profits to the WWP. To date, he has accumulated about $1,900 in profits and still has a limited number of shirts to sell. Adkins stated, “I was surprised by how fast this project started out and it has been doing great.” He continued, “This project required a great deal of time and it would not have been successful if it were not for the assistance of other firefighters taking orders, collecting money and delivering the shirts.”

Fire Fighter Aikens is currently assigned to the Northview Community Fire/EMS Station #816 on “A” Shift. He thanks everyone for purchasing the shirts and for their support.

For information on ordering a shirt click here.

Fire Fighter Ryan E. Aikens Wounded Warrior Project was well supported by fellow Firefighter/Medics.

Back of the shirt.

Fire Fighter/Medic Anthony Taylor displays his recently purchased Wounded Warrior shirt.

CORRECTION MADE TO NAME ON September 13, 2010.