First responders, vehicles receive formal blessings
When people are rescued by emergency service personnel, the response from grateful people is frequently, “bless you.”
Tuesday, first responders and their vehicles — including an emergency helicopter — got scores of preemptive blessings at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Lynwood.
Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations landed Copter 12, a Bell 412 Type 2, at the medical center to be blessed by hospital chaplains as part of the National Emergency Medical Services Week celebration.
First responders from area fire, police and sheriff's departments had their hands blessed by the chaplains, acknowledging the lifesaving work they perform. Emergency service trucks, rigs, cars and ambulances also were blessed.
Brother Richard Hire, director of spiritual care at St. Francis, led the way as the crews and their vehicles were blessed. He also handed out medallions bearing the image of Saint Michael, patron saint of first responders.
Dr. Allen Bookatz, medical director of emergency services and St. Francis Medical Center CEO Lawrence Barnard spoke at the event.
“The hospital's Blessing of the Hands of First Responders and Emergency Vehicles symbolizes the partnership St. Francis embraces with emergency medical services teams to safeguard the health and safety of communities,” a news release said.
Among the dignitaries on hand were Lynwood Councilwoman Marisela Santana, Bell Gardens Mayor Maria Pulido, Compton Mayor Emma Sharif, Cerritos Mayor Chuong Vo, L.A. County Fire Department Medical Director Clayton Kazan, California Highway Patrol Lt. Joe Diaz and Rams cheerleaders.