Word spread like wildfire in a matter of hours: Go down to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and make some noise for the health care workers combating Covid-19.
Tom Bock, a former East Hampton fire chief who drives for the East Hampton Ambulance Association began making phone calls last Thursday night to fire and emergency medical service leaders after seeing that New York City residents had started to clap and show their gratitude for hospital workers at 7 each night.
Just before 7 on Friday night, first responders from across the South Fork lined up in their official vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances, and personal cars at Southampton Town Hall. Led by the Southampton Village police and Southampton Fire Department, they drove in a procession around the hospital with lights and sirens, waving and shouting thank-yous to the doctors, nurses, and other hospital employees who stood outside. The procession was so long it lapped the hospital before it was all over.
Though fully donned in their protective gear, the smiles on the hospital workers’ faces were evident.
As it turned out, Southampton Village Mayor Jesse Warren had put out a request to residents to show their support for all health care workers, first responders, and those in essential occupations during the pandemic by standing outside at 7 and clapping, shouting, and banging pots and pans. Residents did just that.
The show of support — known as #hamptonsclapsbecausewecare — is planned for each Friday at 7 p.m. A video of the most recent procession can be seen on The Star’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
For a similar show of appreciation, East Hampton Village Mayor Richard Lawler announced last Thursday that the village is organizing its own weekly cheer, also on Fridays at 7 p.m. Residents have been encouraged to give a round of applause from in front of their houses.
This mirrors a countywide effort that started on Sunday and encourages fire departments to sound fire whistles while residents stand outside and bang pots, cheer from porches, and honk horns at the end of each day to celebrate the dedication of front-line workers in the fight against the pandemic.