Ind. hospital holds holiday light event in honor of medical professionals

Paul Weston, father of Wade Weston, a flight paramedic who died in a medevac helicopter crash, was given the honor of lighting the Christmas tree

November 30, 2018 05:00 PM

By Kraig Younts
The Rushville Republican

RUSHVILLE, Ind. — On Wednesday night, Rush Memorial Hospital (RMH) hosted its annual Lights of Love event, both for the community and in honor of members of the medical profession.

“RMH is committed to our staff and the community,” President and CEO of RMH Brad Smith said. “Lights of Love celebrates the start of the Christmas season and honors our medical professionals. This event allows all of our families and community to celebrate together.”

Each year the hospital welcomes the community to drink hot chocolate, eat cookies, meet Santa and partake in a number of other activities. The event is named after the hospital’s annual tree lighting tradition, which takes place in front of the hospital.

Weston the Elf, who’s named in the honor of flight paramedic Wade Weston, made his annual appearance to entertain children. Wade Weston died in a medevac helicopter crash while serving as base manager for the Air Evac team at RMH.

Wade Weston’s father, Paul Weston, was given the honor of lighting RMH’s Christmas tree this year.

“He was so proud when he was made base manager for the Air Evac team in Rushville. A lot of people looked up to him,” Weston’s sister, Jo Paul, said of her brother in a previous interview. “He loved his job, but he loved his wife and children even more.”

Today from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., the RMH Cultivation Club will host its Holiday Extravaganza in honor of Wade Weston. The event brings more than 20 vendors and merchants together from across the area, so local residents can start Christmas shopping.

Vendors will sell jewelry, Christmas ornaments, burlap wreaths and many more items. There will also be a bake sale, items from Perfectly Posh and Pampered Chef and other brands.

All proceeds from the event go to the Wade Weston Scholarship Fund. The scholarship is available to RMH employees pursuing a degree in the Nursing or EMS fields.

“The purpose of Lights of Love is to bring the community together during the holiday season,” Director of the RMH Foundation Allene Lilly said. “We are honoring our medical professionals and Wade Weston’s legacy.”