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ELKINS -- The Davis Health System Foundation will celebrate its fifth year of honoring patients of Davis Medical Center and the Davis House.
A "Blessing of the Bricks" ceremony, which is open to the public, will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, where bricks that are placed along "Legacy Lane" at the Davis House will be blessed. Bricks feature names of "those who have touched our lives," and the area gives "a place of peaceful reflection for both patients and guests" of the Davis House, according to facility officials.
"It's called Legacy Lane. Each year we do a 'Blessing of the Bricks.' We try to do it as close to, or on Sept. 12, because that is the day the Davis House was originally opened in 2012," said Jennie Raines, Davis Health System Foundation community giving specialist. "This will be five years and, as you know, the Davis House is located on the campus of Davis Medical Center.
"It's a home away from home for those that receive treatment, originally for cancer. That was our first priority for the Davis House -- for those receiving treatment for cancer at our cancer center," she continued. "But, also, we use it if someone is in the hospital. If they are traveling from far away and need a place to stay, if they are coming in for surgery or if they are coming in for procedures, if we have space available that isn't being used for cancer patients, we also use it for other patients at our hospital."
Raines said during the ceremony, several bricks will be installed before all the bricks receive a blessing, by DHS Chaplain Dina Andrew. "Legacy Lane" features more than 100 bricks.
"We will then have an installation of some special bricks that have been purchased in memory and in honor of those who have touched our lives at some point along the way," Raines said. "These bricks will be placed in 'Legacy Lane,' the commemorative brick garden beside the Davis House to celebrate these memories and reflect on the moments we have shared with those names we see etched."
The event will also feature a reception and music by Seth Maynard.
Raines said the ceremony is important because the DHS Foundation wants the community to know they are still providing this service to those in need.
"It's a way to bring people back to the Davis House to keep it in their mind that it's still an ongoing thing. We want people to remember the Davis House, keep it in their thoughts and know we are still providing this service," she said. "That's why we want to keep doing this on the anniversary. The Davis House does not charge and we endowed enough money to keep it running but we want to keep it in the public eye."
The Davis House, located at the corner of Harrison Avenue and Reed Street in Elkins, has six suites -- four that have two beds and two that have a single bed.
Anyone wishing to purchase a brick can obtain an application at www.dhsfoundation.org or by calling 304-630-3043.