Virtua Health to Illuminate its Hospitals in Blue Light as a Symbol of Peace and Healing
October 13, 2023 - Beginning on Friday, October 13, and continuing through the weekend nights, Virtua Health's five hospitals in Burlington and Camden counties will illuminate in blue lights as a sign of peace and healing.
Friday, October 13, through Sunday, October 15
As the sun sets on Friday, October 13, Virtua Health’s five hospitals in Burlington and Camden counties will illuminate in blue lights as a sign of peace and healing. The blue lights will continue to shine throughout Saturday and Sunday evenings.
“Recent tragic events remind us of how fragile and sacred life is, something that those who work in health care intimately understand,” said Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE, president and CEO of Marlton-based Virtua Health.
“The color blue is associated with feelings of serenity and security. And so, by shining our lights, we aim to demonstrate our shared humanity and our sympathies for those in the Middle East and across the world who are grappling with violence, fear, and loss.”
Virtua’s hospitals are:
- Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, 1600 Haddon Avenue, Camden, NJ 08103
- Virtua Voorhees Hospital, 100 Bowman Drive, Voorhees, NJ 08043
- Virtua Marlton Hospital, 90 Brick Road, Marlton, NJ 08053
- Virtua Mount Holly Hospital, 175 Madison Road, Mount Holly, NJ 08060
- Virtua Willingboro Hospital, 218A Sunset Road, Willingboro, NJ 08046
Pullin also noted that October is Global Diversity Awareness Month. New Jersey is among the most racially and ethnically diverse states in America, according to U.S. census data. The Pew Research Center reports that 6% of New Jersey adults identify as Jewish and 3% identify as Muslim, numbers that far exceed nearby Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland.
“We long for a global society that celebrates what makes us different while elevating the human spirit that brings us together,” said Pullin. “I encourage all of us to consider and act upon ways we can rise above conflict and recognize our mutual humanity.”
Virtua has previously used light as a symbol for health and healing. Last fall, the new Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Proton Therapy Center was illuminated in colorful lights representing a “beacon of hope” for those experiencing cancer. In the spring of 2020, Virtua encouraged South Jersey residents to place candles and lights in their windows to demonstrate support for front-line workers who bravely served others amid the emerging COVID-19 pandemic.