FARMINGTON – Franklin Memorial Hospital’s Bass Conference Room was the setting for a recognition celebration for the health network’s volunteers.

The program included a social time and dinner, updates from hospital officials and music from the British Isles by Talisker (Donna and Peter Campion, Kathryn and John Sytsma, Dan Robbins and Elaine Eadler).

All volunteers attending received a special gift in recognition of their efforts, as well as pins and service bars.

The program was in memory of Edith Armbrecht, Ginger Harris, Lesie Harton and Jeanne Wells, four volunteers who died since the last recognition. Collectively, they gave more than 19,000 hours of service. Jan Hannaford, FMH director of volunteers, paused for a moment of silence and lit a candle in their memory.

Richard Batt, FCHN president, welcomed and thanked the group for their work and added, “The giving of gifts is a special pleasure and what brings us together is you. You give the gift of yourself and you are vital to the success of this institution.”

Hannaford said that with more than 200 volunteers this past year helping in some 40 hospital departments, as well as affiliated Franklin Community Health Network organizations like Pine Tree Medical Associates, Evergreen Behavioral Services, Healthy Community Coalition and Franklin Health Access, the volunteer program is strong.

“Collectively, our volunteers contributed over 26,000 hours of service,” she said.

Volunteers can be found greeting patients at the escort desk, parking cars, filing forms in medical records, processing orders in shipping and receiving and calling patients to remind them of their appointments.

Before presenting the awards, Hannaford acknowledged Elaine Wing, who had volunteered the longest (31 years); Cecil Holman, who volunteered the most hours overall (8,103); and Trudy Dawson who volunteered the most hours this year (719).

Special recognition was given to those who contributed the greatest number of hours overall since joining the program, as well as those who have served the organization for 20 years or more.

They included: Janet Bagnulo, Trudy Dawson, Margaret Durdin, Roberta Fogg, Isabelle Foss, Roberta French, Cecil Holman, Norma Lucarelli, Alvin McDonald,Doris Munson, Albertine Smith, Marion Smith, Lawrence Wilbur and Elaine Wing.

Hannaford also acknowledged volunteers who are couples. They include: Ernest and Gloria Bickford, Norm and Linda Blodgett, Skip and Erlane Dyke, Dale and Judy Fairbanks, Bob and Nancy Flick, Lyle and Gail Karkos, Alvin and Kitty MacDonald, Eugene and Jeanne Martineau, Malcolm and Myrna Orff, David and Catherine Perna and John and Judy Wilbur.

Hannaford welcomes calls from anyone who might be interested in volunteering at Franklin Memorial Hospital. She can be reached at 779-2552.