Dear Editor:

It is my understanding that on October 1, at the peaceful vigil on the St. Andrews Campus, several LCH employees who were born and raised here felt confused and were afraid to walk through what they referred to as a “picket line.”

Did they not hear the bagpiper playing “Amazing Grace?” Did they not recognize their friends and neighbors in tears? Did they not realize that this was the culmination of a very long, hard fight to save their jobs for them? Did they not hear the names of departed friends and family members being offered up in prayer? Did this really look and feel like a picket line?

Folks, we can wear two hats here. We can work for LincolnHealth — we can be members of the community. We can be friends — we have a history. Why the fear? What has happened to our community? This well-planned and peaceful vigil was intended to be therapeutic and it was the Wellness Foundation's hope that it would begin the healing process.

Every employee at St. Andrews Hospital has been in our thoughts and prayers throughout this year-long process. We know how hard it has been to go to work each day, to keep focused on the task at hand, and all the while under the threat of losing the hospital and perhaps their jobs.

Anybody who was born and raised here should have known that this would have been nothing but a peaceful vigil. We are sad that you may have misunderstood our efforts. The last thing anyone wanted to do was frighten you.

We hope that the employees of LincolnHealth will join us in the healing process. For too long our community has lived under the threat of losing our hospital. LincolnHealth's mantra about the urgent care center is “use it or lose it.”

Wouldn't we be better served saying to our friends and neighbors: “I love my work — I need and want to keep my job — please use the urgent care center”? This is the truth and the community will support you. Trust us.

Jane B. Good (Jane B. Sad)
Southport Island