Blue Mass Honors First-Responders

Emergency personnel risk their lives everyday for the safety of the public, and one local church is doing its part to honor their sacrifice.

St. James Episcopal Church is offering a special service this weekend to recognize police, fire fighters and other first-responders for their dedication to the community. Often referred to as the “Blue Mass,” the service is also a memorial for those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

“This is to honor those people who protect us for the entire county, so we have invited many churches, many different clergy are going to be involved, we have an honor guard, we have a bagpiper, we have special music, and this is to be a tribute to those people who put their lives on the line everyday to protect us,” said Choir Director, David Schubach.

Those who currently serve our community as a first-responder are asked to come in uniform for special recognition. Shubach said the service is expected to be a solemn and dignified memorial.

“We hopefully will be doing this every year, and hopefully it will grow every year so that we have more churches involved, more local fire, police and EMS departments attending, but the Mayor of Zanesville and the Mayor of New Concord will be taking part in the service,” Schubach said.

The service is this Sunday at 4 p.m., at St. James Episcopal Church, 155 N. Sixth St. in downtown Zanesville. All are welcome to attend.