As the world watched the Capitol riot unfold Wednesday, there were first responders who headed toward it, answering the call of duty despite crowds and chaos.
“It was just very surreal, it felt like it was something out of a movie,” Andrew Parco, an EMT with the Glen Echo Volunteer Fire Department, said. Parco helped treat two Capitol Police officers who’d been attacked by rioters. He said he felt a sense of duty while treating fellow first responders.
“We are going above and beyond to try and care for them, because they have helped protect others, and that’s really trying to watch out for each other’s backs," Parco said. Of the first responders on the front lines last week, many were volunteers. They’ve responded to emergencies for years, but said this was unlike anything else.