Lincoln Memorial Hospital hosts 37th annual Light up a Life service

[December 04, 2024] 

For the second year, the annual Light up a Life service at Lincoln Memorial Hospital was held inside, in the front lobby of the hospital. The LUAL tree was standing outside the front window with the lights turned out until the appropriate time.

Inside, there were several guests who came to observe the service in honor and remembrance of loved ones who have been patients at Lincoln Memorial Hospital. In the beginning, the event was intended to memorialize those who had passed away in the care of the hospital, but over the years it has also become a means of honoring the many medical staff at the hospital who each day give their talent to taking care of the patients. Sometimes the outcomes are not what was hoped for, but also often what was expected. Though these people strive to preserve life, it is also important that they be there to comfort and care for those who are ready to depart. It takes a special kind of person to be strong when the family is suffering, and compassionate with hearts are breaking. Honoring those who administer that carefully balanced care is just as important to some families as it is to remember the ones who have passed.

VIDEO – Dolan Dalpoas welcomes the community to the 37th annual Light up a Life service at Lincoln Memorial Hospital

The evening began with LMH Chief Administrator Dolan Dalpoas welcoming guests to the 37th annual Light up a Life.

He went through a run down of the program for the evening noting that there would be the traditional reading of the poem “Light a Candle” by Angela Whiteman and singing led by Linda McCuan including the traditional song for the program “O Christmas Tree.”

Before either of those events, the next item on the agenda was an opening prayer by Chaplain Ryan Travis.

VIDEO – LMH staff member Angela Whiteman reads the poem “Light a Candle” during the candling lighting ceremony

Next came the reading of the poem. As the poem was being recited, guests lit the candles they had been given upon arrival.

After the poem, McCuan led the group in singing “O Christmas Tree,” and at the end of the song, the outdoor tree was lit. The closing prayer was then offered by Chaplain Travis, then McCuan led the group in singing “Silent Night.”

After everything was concluded, Dalpoas returned to the front of the room and encouraged guests to linger in the lobby to visit and share. He said that the traditional soup supper would once again this year by a carry out. He encouraged everyone to take a supper bag as they left.

The bags contained a choice of chicken noodle or chili soup, crackers, a packet of cocoa mix and a nicely decorated Christmas tree sugar cookie.

In addition to a touching ceremony remembering loved ones lost, the Light up a Life event is a fundraiser for the Lincoln Memorial Hospital Foundations. Those who desire can give a monetary gift in memory of or in honor of someone special.

Those names of the donors and the people they are acknowledging with their donations will be published in Lincoln Daily News in a special online magazine on December 23rd and will remain in the local or first page of the daily editions throughout the month of January.

[Nila Smith]