Oh, but do we need another gold-shovel moment.
Remember the day — the smiles — when we broke ground on the new hospital?
This was the lead in the May 8, 2012 Register:
“The morning’s storms gave way to a glorious afternoon to celebrate the ground-breaking of a new Allen County Hospital Monday.
“About 150 gathered at the site on North Kentucky Street to listen to an hour’s worth of congratulations to the various committees that saw the effort through to replacing the 60-year-old hospital.”
Among the dignitaries holding gold-plated shovels was Derek Schmidt, Kansas attorney general.
Then on a blustery day in mid-October 2013, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran delivered the keynote address for the ribbon-cutting of the new hospital.
More than 300 gathered for the occasion.
“This hospital is not only for current residents, but for generations to come. People you will never see will benefit from the decisions you have made today,” Sen. Moran said.
PEOPLE we will never see will depend on decisions we make today. What an awesome responsibility.
Building the new hospital was not without its detractors. But enough people believed in it to persevere against the naysayers.
And guess what? Today, we have a hospital that is a privilege to work in and sends the message that Allen County as a whole is a progressive place to live and work.
That is what leaders work toward — a tomorrow that provides more opportunities for its citizens. They look at the greater community and see how they can not only best meet their needs but also give them hope.
True leadership is hard.
It means saying no to special interests who expect you to follow their agendas — perhaps in return for a generous campaign donation.
It means being willing to go against the desires of friends and family.
