NEW LONDON, Texas — Taps played on March 18, 2024, at 3:17 p.m. and marked 87 years to the minute since an explosion killed nearly 300 people and injured many others an New London.
The tune is historically saved for patriotic memorial ceremonies and military funerals, but the honor was bestowed upon the more than 300 victims of the explosion Monday afternoon. To this day, the London School explosion in 1937 is the third deadliest disaster in Lone Star State history.
Cross markers at the Cenotaph honor hundreds of students who died that day. Names of the young ones are engraved into the stone memorial. Many of those injured were taken to Mother Frances Hospital - now Christus Trinity Mother Frances - which opened a day ahead of schedule to assist with the hundreds injured.
"Broken bones, crutches, you know little patients completely covered in bandages and everything," said Sister Malgorzata Majszczyk, who also goes by Sister Margo.
Majszczyk is as a chaplain as Christus Trinity Mother Frances. She tells the stories of the day of the explosion as shared by her fellow sisters.
"Our sisters were the ones who responded to this tremendous horrifying tragedy. They (the sisters) live with very fresh memories at the time," Majszczyk said.
Odorless natural gas seeped into the school building that day. A spark from an electric sander in a classroom shop caused the explosion. The school building partially collapsed and rubble trapped many of the students who tragically died.
"Word came to Tyler that they need help and sisters instantly said absolutely we’re opening hospital," Majszczyk said.
At the time, the hospital was ready for operations waiting for the bishop’s blessing of the building.
"He only said that our hospital, Mother Frances Hospital is opened through the blood of the children that was spilled during this horrible tragedy," Majszczyk said.
Historical markers inside Christus Trinity Mother Frances shares the story of how medical doctors and nurses from across the area came to Mother Frances Hospital to help.
"A full out call for the community to come help. Everyone did what they could, brought what they could to use to help the injured," said Andy Navarro, vice president of mission integration at Christus Trinity Mother Frances.
Majszczyk said roads and healthcare were much different in 1937, but said what hasn’t changed between then and now is the faith the sisters had as they prayed for the patients that came in.
"I know that they just lovingly, lovingly attended to those children with everything that they possibly could have," Majszczyk said.