Mural Donated by "Smiles From Jamie Foundation" and Haderlein/GMS students!
by Alex Battitori
Launch the media gallery 1 playerGirard Medical Center recently received a mural commissioned by the Smiles From Jamie Foundation.
The mural, named “The Tree,” depicts a dark storm moving away as a group of children holds hands alongside a strong oak tree. The initial idea for the mural manifested itself in the form of a poem by an anonymous author.
“The poem brings alive the thought that we are all part of a Tree of Life,” the author explained. “We all have good times and bad, but the important thing to remember is that we are never alone. It explains that God is with us and He carries us through the storms of life through the people He has placed in our lives.”
The idea quickly evolved with the help of Haderlein Elementary and Girard Middle School students, who collected pennies throughout 2014. After the funds were raised, the poem’s author worked with a local artist to create the idea for what would eventually become “The Tree.”
After being completed in late July, “The Tree” is now on display in the Girard Medical Center lobby. It is intended to be a traveling piece of art, and its next home will be the medical clinic in Girard.
Both the poem and mural were dedicated to the Girard Medical Center from the Smiles From Jamie Foundation “for its Leadership and to give faith, love and hope to all who enter their doors and to all who leave their doors.”
“Smiles From Jamie” was set up for the children who come to Girard Medical Center. It was created to honor Jamie Rebecca Hallacy, who passed away in 2011.
The mission of the Smiles from Jamie fund is to provide children’s activity items such as blankets, books, puzzles, games and/or videos available for children who are inpatients at Girard Medical Center or are Emergency Room patients. They also contributed the wagons which pull young patients from place-to-place within the hospital.
The completed mural can be seen in the Girard Medical Center front lobby.
The poem reads:
The Tree of Life, we gather here… Our Foundation
It is strong, solid… The roots go deep to our SOUL… LIFE…
We can think of the Tree as Our Home, Our Community, Our Church, Our School, Our Hospital.
Where we learn to serve others with the help of Leaders.
The Wise One, the OWL… A Leader. He teaches us, He cares for us.
The OWL, the Wise One, is important in our Tree of Life.
There are dark days of Life… Storms that come and destroy our dream…
But memories of life are to cherish.
In these Dark Days we must go on – even if it is hard, sad or devastating to us.
We are not alone… We are NOT alone…
A Rainbow of Hope… The Sun will Shine… And carry us through the storm.
For above us, the Heavens shine with the Love of God…
Hope, as He carries us through these tough times.
We are not alone… Faith, Family and Friends give us Love and Hope that
God above Walks with Us and Cares for Us.
The Tree… It is here at Girard Medical Center.
They are the Hands of Caring Individuals who are daily
Caring for our Communities…One Patient at a Time.
The Smiles From Jamie Foundation would like to dedicate this mural to
Girard Medical Center for its Leadership and to give Faith, Love and Hope
To All Who Enter These Doors
To All Who Leave These Doors