Saint Mary's Hospital Celebrates National Nurses Week With Tree Planting Ceremony

WATERBURY, Conn. -- In celebration of National Nurses Week, Saint Mary’s Hospital will hold a Tree Planting Ceremony on May 13^th. Nursing colleagues, Saint Mary’s Hospital and Trinity Health Of New England leadership, as well as local dignitaries, will gather at 1:00 p.m. for a ceremonial tree planting on the southeast side of the hospital facing Union Street. The ceremony is set to honor the strength and resilience of Saint Mary’s nurses.

The ceremony will begin with a blessing, followed by reflections from two nurses who will share personal remarks about their work, particularly from their experiences throughout the pandemic. Saint Mary’s Hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer, Shawna Edwards, MSN, RN will conduct the ceremonial tree planting of a Weeping Cherry tree. The Weeping Cherry tree has a rich and vivid history – and is known to represent good fortune, new beginnings, and revival.

The theme for this year’s Nurses Week is “Rooted in Strength.” The theme was the inspiration of the president-elect of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Beth Wathen. She likened the COVID-19 pandemic to a wildfire, destroying much in its path, saying our recovery is like the new growth of wildflowers and evergreens after the fire. “Nurses are rooted in strength, forged in fire, and growing in power. Rooted in Strength we create our new path forward as leaders in healthcare,” stated Wathen.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to honor our incredible and deeply dedicated nurses,” said Edwards. “This year’s theme ‘Rooted in Strength’ directly reflects our daily work and our commitment to our Mission of serving as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our local community. Our nurses, and all our colleagues, are rooted in the Greater Waterbury community. We live, work, and are dedicated to serving our neighbors.”