As morning broke yesterday in Joplin, hundreds gathered to pay tribute to the 161 people who lost their lives in last year's deadly EF-5 tornado, along with the skilled first responders—including medical staff and rescue workers—who treated more than 500 injured and carried out 22 life-saving surgeries.  

The service took place at Freeman Hospital West, with Freeman CEO Paula Baker setting the tone of “ordinary people performing extraordinary deeds.” First and foremost, she was referring to the tireless efforts of Freeman Hospital employees who postponed their own grief in order to assist the injured, who began arriving by the truckload after the multi-vortex twister all but demolished St. John's Medical Center.

“They literally shook off the debris of their own homes and made way to Freeman, maneuvering downed power lines,” Baker said. “These doctors and nurses worked to save the lives of others, while unsure of the safety of their own family and friends. They tended to more than 500 souls in need of care.”

Missouri Gov. Nixon, who has been a regular fixture in Joplin, spoke at the service and was named a “Freeman Fellow” for his ongoing commitment to rebuilding the community from the ground up while enabling its residents to heal both emotionally and physically. Following Nixon, a local teen and his mom shared their life-changing journey. The service culminated in the release of sky lanterns to honor the dead and those who have “lifted the community up through their good deeds.”

To view the slideshow of the memorial highlights, click “next” to the bottom right. 

Baker lauded Gov. Nixon for securing resources and encouraging Joplin residents to “press on and not allow the enormity of the destruction take from their resolve.”

Last year's tornado destroyed 8,000 homes. With St. John's in rubble, Freeman staff were bombarded with critically injured. At the time of the tornado, 259 of the 288 hospital beds were occupied, and the emergency room was at near capacity.

Doctors and nurses reported that typical injuries ranged from concussions to severe head trauma, severed limbs, and objects impaled in bodies.

Only six other people have received the distinction of “fellow” in Freeman's 90-year history. Gov. Nixon expressed gratitude and pride in the goodness of Joplin rescue workers.

“The sun rose only a couple of hours ago, but so much light has already been seen,” he said before being joined by a choir from a local church.

Stories of heroism abounded. One doctor watched his house get swept away, only to head moments later in darkness to the emergency room, where he performed the first of several surgeries that evening. Another doctor, who will be featured in this week's People magazine, saved a girl who was impaled by the metal rod supporting a stop sign.

One of the many stories that resonated with me was that of a Home Depot worker. Suffering from a broken leg, the man ran five blocks to try to get help for a dying child. The local Home Depot has since been rebuilt, but five people died that day.

Malachi Murdock and his mother, Susan Murdock, took the podium to thank those who saved his life. Malachi had graduated from high school only two weeks prior to the May 22, 2011, tornado. He had finished a performance at Stained Glass Theatre when the storm ripped apart the building, killing three and inflicting Malachi with nearly fatal wounds. 

“In Missouri, sirens are an almost weekly occurrence so no one really pays attention to them,” he said. “That day was different.”

To this day, Malachi is unsure of what object struck his face but doctors believe it was a cinder block. Two students died next to him and Susan said her son, now a vibrant 17-year-old, was “unrecognizeable” to her when they first reunited at the hospital that day.

Malachi was among the more than 500 wounded persons treated at Freeman Hospital West in the first hours after the storm. As the days progressed, more than 1,700 victims of the tornado would seek care. That evening, 110 Freeman physicians and 347 nurses reported to duty, performing 22 lifesaving surgeries in 12 hours. Volunteers and Freeman employees released lanterns in the morning sky to pay tribute to what Baker referred to as “selflessness and love that defines us as people and a community.”