Mary Free Bed Staff Lay Wreath at Presidential Ceremony

To commemorate President Gerald R. Ford’s 109th birthday, members of the Ford family and his Historical Legacy Trust conducted a wreath laying ceremony at his tomb on the grounds of the Ford Presidential Museum.

The ceremony included presentation of wreaths on behalf of President Joe Biden, the Ford family and two clinicians from Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. Ralph Wang, MD, and Mitchelle Limo, RN, were part of the official ceremony, laying a tribute wreath representing health care workers of West Michigan.

Additional members of the Mary Free Bed team, Michael Jakubowski, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Maria Opoku-Agyeman, Chief Nursing Officer, and Tim Pietryga, Vice President of Advancement, joined other guests in laying personal floral tributes during the ceremony.

“It was a distinct privilege and honor to represent health care workers and Mary Free Bed while paying tribute to President Ford,” said Dr. Ralph Wang, Mary Free Bed physiatrist. “We will continue to carry on his legacy of leadership, integrity, and caring for others.”

Former First Lady Betty Ford began the ceremony shortly after President Ford’s death in 2006. The tradition has been conducted on her behalf every year since. After her death in 2011, the ceremony began to also honor her.

The connection between the Ford family and Mary Free Bed goes beyond the ceremony. The Betty Bloomer Ford Cancer Rehabilitation Program was named in her honor, following her own battle with cancer. The former First Lady and her mother, Hortense Neahr Bloomer, both held leadership positions in the Mary Free Bed Guild.

Local media outlet, WZZM 13, carried a livestream of the ceremony. Check out our photos in the gallery below: