×

To show honor and sympathy

Bottineau community to hold 'We Commemorate' memorial service

Submitted Photo From the left are Warren Emmer, pastoral care director at St. Andrew’s Health Center; Father Jared Kadlec of St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Bottineau, and St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Westhope; and Pastor Craig Jennings of Grace Lutheran Brethren Church, Bottineau, shown in the entryway to Bottineau High School. The “We Commemorate” memorial service will be held in the school gymnasium Aug. 18 to honor and recognize those who died between March 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021, when abbreviated funerals were held due to COVID-19.

BOTTINEAU – In recognition of all the people who had abbreviated funerals during the months of COVID-19, the Bottineau Area Christian Ministerial Association is sponsoring a “We Commemorate” memorial service next month.

St. Andrew’s Health Center in Bottineau and Thrivent Insurance are underwriting the event.

The ecumenical service, set for Wednesday, Aug. 18, is being planned for 700 people and will be held at Bottineau High School gymnasium. Doors will open at 5 p.m., a modest meal will be served from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and the service begins at 7 p.m.

To their knowledge, organizers believe this is the only community in the state to hold an event such as this to honor those who died during the months of COVID-19.

Many community volunteers will be helping with the event.

“We want to honor everybody, not just COVID deaths,” said Pastor Craig Jennings of Grace Lutheran Brethren Church in Bottineau, who is co-chairman of the event. He said the event will bring the community together as a way to remember everyone. For some it will help bring a sense of closure as a way to bring everyone full circle, he said.

Father Jared Kadlec of St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Bottineau, and St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Westhope, also co-chairman of the event, said, “This is an attempt as a community and as a county that we haven’t forgotten your loved ones, and to be able to gather as a community.”

Warren Emmer, director of Pastoral Care at St. Andrew’s Hospital in Bottineau, said 144 people in Bottineau County died between March 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021. He said not all were deaths due to COVID-19.

“We want to express respect and sympathy to all families,” Emmer said. “We are inviting everyone. We want this to be a Christian fellowship.”

“This pandemic touched all our lives – in our community, in our county and country” he added.

Invitations have been sent to family members of those who died in that approximately year and a half timeframe.

Emmer said a Rose Ceremony will be part of the service on Aug. 18 when all the names of those who died between March 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021, will be read. When each name is read a rose will be placed in a receptacle. After the service families can pick up the rose for their family member who died.

Turtle Mountain Kiwanis of Bottineau will present their Hero Awards to healthcare people at Good Samaritan Nursing Home and St. Andrew’s Hospital.

If you have any questions

For more information about the “We Commemorate” memorial service call Warren Emmer, Bottineau, at 220-5042.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today