By Marcia Walker, Salem Leader & Democrat staff writer

The crucifix hanging in the hospital classroom behind the speakers is small, but it signifies a big change in health care in Washington County.

A standing-room-only crowd of about 150 people assembled in the hospital's classroom Tuesday, spilling out into the hallway, to hear speakers at a news conference announcing the transition of Washington County Memorial Hospital to St. Vincent Salem.

St. Vincent describes its health care services as a mission and the Catholic-based company focuses on the whole person -- body, mind in spirit -- in its approach.

Tuesday was a day many in the community feared would never come as the embattled hospital struggled since ties were broken with Jewish Health Care in 2004. The hospital, which once had a healthy operating balance, seemingly hemorrhaged. The financial trouble eventually led to a bankruptcy filing.

But a new day has dawned.

Salem Mayor David Bower, one of the speakers Tuesday, referred to the efforts of St. Vincent Health Care, along with the board of directors of Critical Access Health Services Corporation, and local, state and federal officials, as "an endeavor from the heart."

He asked the crowd, many wearing St. Vincent T-shirts, to think back 60 years, when community leaders put shovels into the ground as construction of the hospital was about to begin. He noted many people in the room had lifelong ties to the hospital.

Then Bower asked those present to think of the future, envisioning a first class health care facility that makes a statement about the community.

"This is an historic moment, honoring the past and imagining the future," Bower said.

Kevin Speer, a strategy officer with St. Vincent, described the effort "as a long trip," reminding the crowd that the local hospital bears the distinction of being the first hospital in the state to go through bankruptcy. The bankruptcy plan was given final approval by a judge with U.S. Bankruptcy Court just last Friday.