Minneapolis VA hospital employees by the hundreds filled a chapel, crowded into spillover space, and peered at a livestream feed this week to mourn the loss of one of their own to gunfire from federal agents on a city street.
The outpouring of grief and admiration on Tuesday, Feb. 3, for Alex Pretti was detailed in a poignant account posted on the Department of Veterans Affairs website and pointed out that many on the hospital’s medical staff “had spent the last 10 days walking by flowers and condolence cards that had poured into the medical center from the community.”
The chapel was filled to capacity. Some workers assembled in another room of the building, and 650 more “huddled around computer screens to watch the live broadcast,” the VA’s posting read.
Pat Kelly, director of the Minneapolis Veterans Medical Center, greeted the nearly 1,000 employees as the memorial service began.
“This is an immeasurable loss to the Minneapolis VA and to all who had the privilege of working alongside him,” Kelly said. “Alex was a valued member of our team, recognized for his professionalism, dedication, and commitment to Veterans.”
He introduced the newly formed Minneapolis VA Nurse Honor Guard, a unit of eight nurses, dressed in traditional white nursing uniforms, complete with cap and cape.
Flanked by the American and Red Cross flags, the Honor Guard solemnly formed in a single line across the altar.
“I witnessed Alex as an integral part of our ICU team,” Faith Broman, Pretti’s supervisor, told employees. She added, “I will never forget meeting him at the coffee pot just two days before he died.”
