On Friday, April 14th, Door County Medical Center (DCMC) will join with dozens of Wisconsin hospitals, businesses, and community organizations across the state by hosting the annual Pause to Give Life event—a statewide Donate Life Flag-raising ceremony and moment of silence that promotes not only the mission of organ, tissue and eye donation, but also honors donors and their families.

The event will begin at 1 p.m., with opening remarks by Christa Krause, RN Chief Nursing Officer, and Jaime Kasten, RN Emergency Department, followed by a Prayer of Remembrance & Thanksgiving from Catherine Heimbecher, Chaplain.

At 1:08 p.m. the Donate Life Flag will be raised by Jim Meyer, heart transplant recipient, which will be followed by a 1 minute and 4 second moment of silence. After the flag-raising ceremony, Mr. Meyer will speak, then Brian Stephens, President and CEO of DCMC, will provide closing remarks. Following the ceremony, everyone is invited to a small reception—with cookies—in the gift shop lobby.

The timing of the flag raising is significant and purposeful. The Donate Life Flag is raised at 1:08 p.m. to recognize the fact that 1 donor can save 8 lives—the 1-minute, 4-second moment of silence honors the more than 104,000 patients currently waiting for a life-saving transplant in the U.S.

April 14th is also Blue & Green day—the public is encouraged to wear blue and green and to engage in sharing the Donate Life message, as well as promote the importance of registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor.

The Donate Life flag was first introduced by Donate Life America in 2006. Since then, it has become a national symbol of unity, remembrance, and hope, honoring those touched by donation and transplantation across the country and around the world. During the past 16 years, more than 60,000 Donate Life Flags have flown across America.

Donate Life Wisconsin (DLW) is a nonprofit alliance of organizations and caring individuals dedicated to increasing donated organs, eyes and tissues to save and heal lives. Through education and advocacy, DLW inspires people to register as donors and works together to create a culture where donation is embraced as a fundamental human responsibility.

Visit the Donor Registration Table at the flag-raising ceremony for more information on donation, or visit the Donate Life America website or Donate Life Wisconsin website.