MOSES LAKE — Lights flashing, over a dozen emergency vehicles from various first responder agencies converged at Samaritan Hospital at sunset Friday night, part of a nationwide event to honor health care workers at the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nurses, medical assistants, doctors and staff, all wearing masks and many still in scrubs, lined up at the front entrance of the hospital or peered out of north-facing windows as the procession circled the parking lot.

Even some who had already gotten off work hours before had come back to see representatives from local law enforcement, firefighting and medical transport services travel from across the county to thank them for their vital work during the crisis.

“When they’re on the front lines too, honestly it’s very humbling,” said Samaritan Healthcare CEO Theresa Sullivan.

Working in health care is never an easy job, but in the middle of a pandemic, especially for front-line caregivers, the work is never more difficult or more needed, Sullivan said.

“We have heroes here, I think that’s always true, but especially now with what’s happening in our community,” Sullivan said. “It’s just an unprecedented time for everybody. I’m super proud of my staff for everything they do and the courage they have coming in each day.”

Wearing a cloth mask made by a coworker, Jennifer Clark, a lab office assistant at Samaritan, said Friday that she’s been kept fueled by adrenaline, excited each day to join the fray. In normal times, she maintains the hospital’s computer systems and lab dictionaries, as well as taking care of outpatients, but these days are spent focused on COVID-19 testing.

But though she said she feels buoyed by her work and her team, the hours are longer, there seem to be more of them in each work day, and emotions are running high. So when Clark saw Friday morning that this event would be taking place, it brought her to tears.

“It’s overwhelming to see their support for us; it means a lot to us. Some of us who were already off shift came back tonight to see this,” Clark said. “And to have the blessing of the chaplain with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office was very powerful.”

After the emergency vehicles had wound their way through the parking lot, Grant County Sheriff’s Office chaplain Dennis Fountain led those in attendance in prayer. Once prayers were said the first responders who had gathered, unable to congregate physically due to social distancing guidelines, waved their farewells and returned to service.

It was just the latest in a long string of moments where community members have shown their appreciation for medical workers, Clark said.

“The support from the community has been outstanding,” Clark said.

“I had a family member from George drive over here on a Sunday to give me a box of masks and supplies from the farm,” she continued. “And then the people who are making masks and are donating, as well as the local dentists who are making masks — it’s amazing the support we’ve received.”