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This plaque is located on an outside wall, at the main entrance of St. Theresa Hospital, in Fort Vermilion. It outlines the saga of the diphtheria outbreak at Little Red River in December 1928. The plaque was first located on a cairn in front of the old hospital. It was dedicated by the St. Theresa Ladies Hospital Auxiliary in 1968. 'Wop' May and Vic Horner made the flight from Edmonton in January 1929, to deliver the antitoxin needed to prevent an epidemic. They flew in an open cockpit aircraft in temperatures that dipped to minus 30 degrees.The efforts made by local people including Mrs. Bert Logan, William and Bobby Gray, Dr. H.A. Hamman, Francis Bourassa, Joe La Fleur and William Lambert were celebrated at the 75th Anniversary Mercy Flight Reenactment on January 3, 2004.
Plaque Erratum: The twelve day trip to Peace River was by horse team.
Photo by Jordan Ronald Lambert, Fort Vermilion
Click here to return to attractionsAcknowledgements: Summer Career Placement Program staff, Keith Klassen (2004/2005) & Jordan Lambert (2006) andMarilee Cranna Toews of the Fort Vermilion Agricultural Society |