Military veterans have long held a place of honor at St. Tammany Health System.
For example, the second chief of staff of its flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital earned a bronze star and five combat stars after leading a M.A.S.H. unit on the beaches of Normandy during World War II.
His successor as chief of staff also fought in World War II, serving in an infantry unit in North Africa and Sicily, and earning five decorations and five battle stars.
The list goes on.
So, when former hospital employee and Patient Experience Task Force member Susan Titman came up with an idea for a way to honor patients and colleagues who served, the nonprofit St. Tammany Health Foundation wasted no time putting it into practice.
The moving result of that effort gets the spotlight in today’s installment of 70 for 70, a weekly series highlighting 70 artifacts that help tell the story of St. Tammany Health System.
Installment No. 48: Honor Red, White and Blue
Today’s artifact: A folded American flag used March 12, 2013, during St. Tammany Parish Hospital’s first-ever Honor Red, White and Blue tribute, which is held to memorialize American veterans who pass away at the Covington hospital.
Why it is significant: Every patient is important. That’s one of St. Tammany Health System’s guiding principles.
That said, St. Tammany Health System adopted a special recognition program in 2013 to acknowledge the unique sacrifices made by military veterans.
Dubbed Honor Red, White and Blue, the program consists of three chief components:
First, physicians, employees and volunteers who have served in the military are given a special ID badge holder – adorned with Old Glory, of course – to recognize their service.
In addition, patients at the hospital are offered the opportunity to have a star next to their name in their electronic medical record as well as an American flag sticker on their patient room nameplate.
The most moving aspect of the program, however, is the solemn flag tribute offered to military veterans who pass away while a patient at the hospital. When that happens, an overhead page sounds throughout the hospital, saying, “Attention, please. Honor Red, White and Blue.” All available staff then assemble in the appropriate hallway to stand in silence as the veteran is escorted out, draped with an American flag.
The program immediately struck a chord, not just with patients’ families but with veterans groups, too. The Military Order of the Purple Heart and the American Legion presented checks to the foundation in support of the program. Woodmen of the World pledged to provide flags to be used in such tributes as long as the hospital program continues.
On March 12, 2019 – the sixth anniversary of the first tribute – the foundation unveiled an Honor Red, White and Blue display at the hospital, funded by a donation from the McMath family and its associated companies, including McMath Construction of Mandeville.
In addition to including the official seals of all five U.S. service branches alongside a red and blue version of the foundation’s then-logo, it includes that first flag that started it all in 2013.
In helping unveil the installation, McMath Vice President Patrick McMath, now a Louisiana state senator, told the assembled crowd that both of his grandfathers served overseas during World War II, one with the U.S. Army in Europe and the other with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific. Several of McMath’s great uncles lost their lives in the same war.
“I can’t think of any sacrifice greater than serving your country,” McMath said. “My family jumped at this opportunity to honor that sacrifice.”
St. Tammany Health Foundation Specialist Melanie Rudolph echoed that sentiment in explaining the hospital’s eagerness to honor local veterans, saying, “It is our duty and privilege to be able to honor the men and women of our armed forces for their service to our country.”
Do you have a St. Tammany Parish Hospital story or item to share? We’d love to hear about it! Email us at CommDept@stph.org.
Next week – Installment No. 49: The first volunteers
Last week – Installment No. 47: Let the games begin!