Baptist Health Care hosted a cornerstone and flag-raising ceremony at the new $65 million Baptist Hospital campus at Brent Lane and I-110 on Oct. 12.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all of you for being a part of another incredible day in Baptist’s history,” said KC Gartman, chief development officer, Baptist Health Care, welcoming the gathered crowd. “We are truly humbled that so many of you have joined us today.”
Joy Powell, director of community health, Baptist Health Care, led the opening prayer: “Thank you for every person that graces this campus. This day of celebration is a blessing from you. Help us to enjoy every moment, making memories that will last a lifetime,”
Naval Air Station Pensacola’s Naval Air Technical Training Center Color Guard and special guest Burl Wise performed the flag raising. Wise, age 90, a former marine and life-long Pensacola resident, participated in Baptist Hospital’s 1951 flag raising that celebrated the opening of the hospital at its former location.
President and CEO Mark Faulkner led the cornerstone dedication at the new campus town square.
“God’s hand has been on Baptist throughout our history,” said Faulkner. “And through that journey He has built in us resilience. May we always be reminded of His faithfulness and goodness to us all.”
The cornerstone, brought from the the hospital’s former E St. campus location, reads, “BAPTIST HOSPITAL 1950, TO THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALING, MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROSITY OF PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS.”
After the cornerstone was unveiled, Faulkner welcomed a group of 12 board members, physicians, team members and retirees to each place a stone at the base of the monument. The symbolism comes from the Old Testament of the Bible when Joshua directed each tribe of Israel to take 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan River as as a memorial to God.
Ron Jackson, chair, Baptist Health Care Board of Directors, closed the cornerstone portion of the ceremony.
“As Baptist continues to grow and evolve to meet the needs of our community, let us always remember that the true cornerstone of our organization is the dedication, passion and commitment of our team members and the trust and support of our community,” said Jackson. He also extended appreciation and praise to former board chair Dr. Marcus Paul. Paul served in the board leadership role when the decision to build the replacement campus was made and throughout most of the construction of the new campus.
The event closed with a joint ribbon cutting by the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce and the Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce.
