Remembering the lives lost in the St. Anthony's Hospital Fire 75 years later

EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WAND) - Over 70 lives were lost in the fire at St. Anthony's Hospital, and today residents gathered at St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham to remember each one.

"The important thing is to recognize the people who perished in the fire so we never lose that camaraderie and as the generations come up they need to be remembered of that." said President of the Volunteer Firefighters Association, Nick Althoff.

At the end of the event a statue was unveiled in honor of those who lost their lives. 

"I think the retired fire chiefs and the city folks decided that an appropriate subject matter would be a nurse carrying a baby since there were eleven infants that died in the fire." said President and CEO of Saint Anthony's Memorial Hospital, Chad Markham.

For more information on St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital, click here.