First responders honored at Bethea luncheon
(Left to right) Darlington County coroner Todd Hardee, Bethea Life Enrichment director Doug Simmons, former S.C. Governor David Beasley, and Bethea executive director/administrator Ben Spurling.
Photos by Samantha Lyles
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Bethea Retirement Community showed their appreciation for emergency medical, fire, and law enforcement personnel last Thursday at their annual First Responders Luncheon.
“This is the third time we’ve done this during my tenure here,” said Doug Simmons, Life Enrichment director at Bethea. Simmons has served for six years as a firefighter with Palmetto Rural Fire and Rescue, and says the Bethea community welcomes the chance to show gratitude for the difficult and crucial work performed by first responders.
The Missing Man Table, where first responders could reflect and remember their fallen comrades.
“Basically we just want to thank them for the work that they do, regardless of whether they are fire, EMS, or law enforcement. It makes no difference,” said Simmons.
Members from local, state, and federal police, fire and rescue, and 911 emergency agencies joined Bethea staff for a meet and greet session, a delicious lunch – including pork loin, au gratin potatoes, green beans with bacon, and apple cobbler – and a message of support from special guest former S.C. Governor David Beasley. A written message from Gov. Nikki Hailey was also read after lunch during a brief devotional in the Bethea chapel.
Guests were invited to visit the Missing Man Table, where they could reflect and mourn fallen brothers and sisters. The table featured a black cloth to symbolize mourning, a red rose representing blood shed in the line of duty, a white napkin denoting purity of intent to serve their community, a lemon slice for bitter fate, salt to remind them of tears shed by their loved ones, the Holy Bible representing strength found in faith, and an inverted glass reminding all that the Missing Man cannot join in the day’s fellowship.
Attendees were also given a commemorative wristband symbolically joining a red line (representing fire and emergency medical) and a blue line (representing law enforcement) to remind them of their unified purpose.
