Fountain National Academy of Professional Embalming Skills (FNA) was established by Vernie R. Fountain in 1990. He created FNA to provide quality professional training for embalmers to advance their skill level regarding general embalming techniques with a main focus on post mortem reconstructive surgery techniques to repair disfiguring traumatic injuries on deceased individuals. Since 1990 FNA has trained embalmers from a number of countries around the world and across the United States of America. In 2010 FNA arrived at the milestone of providing training for 20 years. To celebrate that milestone FNA decided to host its first biennial “International Embalming and Reconstructive Surgery Conference for Professional Embalmers” which was held in Springfield, Missouri USA and had professional embalmers in attendance from 10 countries and 25 states in the USA. During the planning for this conference FNA created the Distinguished Professional Service Award. This award was designed by Mr. Fountain to be the highest award that can be granted by FNA. The criteria established to select recipients requires careful consideration and thought and it is to be given to a deserving professional embalmer. A medallion is awarded to a very deserving embalmer who has esteemed themselves through the years as a true professional, with unwavering dedication toward providing quality services and highly skilled techniques when caring for the deceased. In 2016 Mr. Fountain, with much respect and appreciation, presented an FNA Distinguished Professional Service Medallion award to Mr. Shane A. Ritchie. His dedication within his heart, mind and hands to his profession and the families he serves is unsurpassed. The engraving on the back of the medallion reads: Shane A. Ritchie Awarded at the FNA International Embalming and Reconstructive Surgery Conference for Professional Embalmers August 5, 2016 Springfield, Missouri United States of America Shane A. Ritchie 2016 FNA Distinguished Professional Service Medallion Honoree