WARWICK – (Dec. 1) On Monday evening, November 30, St. Anthony Community Hospital in Warwick, NY hosted a tree lighting ceremony to celebrate the start of the Christmas season with members of the community and staff.
It was a truly joyous celebration with traditional Christmas carols performed by the Warwick Valley High School Meistersingers. And there were welcoming wishes for the holiday season by Bon Secours Charity Health System CEO Dr. Mary Leahy. Special guests, Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton and Mayor Michael Newhard were introduced to those attending.
Before heading outside for the tree lighting ceremony there were invocations and blessings of the tree by Chaplain Tracy Kessler and Sister Mary Spano. Then came the surprise.
As the group gathered outside and the Meistersingers continued their caroling, a Warwick Police Department vehicle and motorcycle escort, with lights flashing and sirens sounding, pulled up to the main entrance of the hospital. And, to the delight of the children as well as the adults, out stepped Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Santa then read a special tree lighting poem. The tree lights were turned on and everyone was invited back inside the hospital's main lobby to enjoy a reception and refreshments featuring cookies, hot chocolate and apple cider. And during the celebration Santa and Mrs. Claus graciously posed for photographs and distributed gifts to the children.
About Bon Secours Charity Health System
Every year, nearly one million people in the lower Hudson Valley, New Jersey and Pennsylvania turn to Bon Secours Charity Health System (BSCHS) for innovative healthcare delivered with compassion. BSCHS has received national recognition, rankings and numerous awards for the level of care it provides.
BSCHS is comprised of Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, NY; Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis, NY; St. Anthony Community Hospital in Warwick, NY; a certified home health agency; two long-term care facilities; an assisted living/adult home facility and several other medical programs located throughout the region. The system employs more than 3,400, making it one of the region's largest employers
Bon Secours Medical Group is BSCHS's regional network of nearly 80 primary care physicians and specialists from a broad array of medical disciplines. These skilled clinicians play a central role in bringing personalized, preventive and expert care to people from every stage of life.
Photos:
1. On Monday evening, November 30, St. Anthony Community Hospital in Warwick, NY hosted a tree lighting ceremony to celebrate the start of the Christmas season with members of the community and staff.
2. A Warwick Police Department vehicle and motorcycle escort, with lights flashing and sirens sounding, pulled up to the main entrance of the hospital. And, to the delight of the children as well as the adults, out stepped Santa and Mrs. Claus.
3. Santa read a special tree lighting poem and the lights were turned on.
4. There was a surprise visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus who graciously posed for photographs and distributed gifts to the children.