Munising Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees members hold a ribbon cut for the new $14.2 million hospital in July. The old hospital served the community for 47 years and was razed for parking space. From left, Allison Bowerman-Johnson, secretary Helen Peters, President James Brogan, Vice President Kirt Harmon cutting ribbon, Mike Lindquist, Tari Johnson, Treasurer Pete Kelto and Chief Executive Officer Carl Velte, who retired in September. (Journal file photo by John Pepin)

MUNISING — The simple act of snipping a ribbon belied the gravity of the moment on a July afternoon as a new era of medical care began at Munising Memorial Hospital. The ribbon-cutting marked the ceremonial opening of the town’s new 59,800 square-foot, $14.2 million critical care access hospital, which had been under construction since November 2006. Doors opened at the new hospital on June 13. The old facility, standing on the adjacent property since 1961, was razed for parking space about three weeks after the ribbon-cutting. “This is one of the proudest days of my life,” said hospital Chief Executive Officer Carl Velte. Velte, who after 20 years in Munising retired Sept. 29, read a prepared statement pausing between some phrases, choked up with emotion. He said the ribbon-cutting event proved to be a difficult day for him. He praised local residents for supporting the project. “If a community doesn’t support a hospital, there’s no point in building one,” Velte said.