TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum honored more than 10,000 employees of the Saint Francis Health System with a key to city Saturday night, according to Saint Francis.

The key was not just for two years of non-stop COVID work, but also honored them for not closing their doors after the mass shooting that happened last June. Once out of lockdown, the hospital still received patients while also treating and attempting to save their own coworkers and patients also caught up in the violence.

Because of COVID precautions, this is the first time in two years that the hospital system was able to throw an all employee party and more than 5,000 showed up for the event.

There were speeches about working through COVID and the long hours and challenges that came with it in addition to the shooting last June. Then Mayor Bynum came out and thanked the crowd by presenting the Saint Francis Health System employees with a key to the city.

The key to the city is the highest honor the Tulsa municipal government can give to someone for outstanding work, deeds, or actions that make the city a better place for all citizens.

©2022 Cox Media Group