Light up a Life offers a time to remember, honor, and show appreciation for loved ones

[December 13, 2016]   LINCOLN - On Tuesday evening the Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation and Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital hosted the annual Light up a Life service at the hospital on the Woods Patio. Following the service, attendees were welcomed into the Steinfort conference rooms for a soup supper.

The evening began with music provided on electric piano by David Helm. Chaplain Donna Berte offered up the opening prayer and comments before guests were invited to light a candle in memory of loved ones lost.

Berte encouraged each person as they lit their candle to whisper to themselves or their neighbor the name of the person they held in their heart and memory.

Angie Whitman read the traditional poem, “Light a Candle.” The poem has become a mainstay of this service and through its words reminds us that though loved ones are gone from this world, they remain with us daily in our hearts.

“I’ll always be here day and night,
A candle flickers, out of sight,
But in your heart, I still burn bright."

The poem also reminds us to be happy, to enjoy our good memories and remember all the good things we shared with those who are now gone.

This year the white tree on the far side of the patio was lit in memory of Eddie Camp. Berte spoke of this kind and funny lady who has now passed, sharing memories of her gathered from friends who knew her very well, and remember her now in the spirit of the poem with “gladness and joyous cheer.”

Berte invited everyone to turn toward the tree as it was lit and join in the singing of the traditional Christmas hymn “O Christmas Tree.”

Berte then asked that everyone join in singing “Silent Night” after she delivered the closing prayer. When the song was finished, guests gathered in the Steinfort Rooms to enjoy a light supper, and spend time together remembering those they were honoring on that night, and sharing those memories as they visited with friends.

In addition to the ceremony, the Light Up a Life program is a fundraising campaign for the hospital foundation. Donations are given in memory of loved ones lost, but also in honor and appreciation of caregivers and hospital staff who helped lessen the struggle for patients and families through their loving care.

Each year, more than 2,000 people are honored or memorialized through this campaign. The dollars gained through the campaign are used for a variety of things, including adding new equipment to the hospital, and furthering the education of current staff, and offering scholarships to local students, who in turn vow to return to the hospital for the start of their medical careers.

The Light up a Life campaign includes publication of the names of those donating and the person or persons whom the donation honors. Lincoln Daily News is proud to offer this publication to the community through its Light up a Life online magazine. Look for that publication to come out at Christmas and remain available through the month of January.

[Nila Smith]