Joplin Hospital Honors 2011 Tornado Survivors

Katlyn Wilkins and Andrea Wilkins Morelli work on securing an American flag in a tree as they deal with the destruction caused by a massive tornado that passed through the town killing at least 139 people on May 29, 2011 in Joplin, Missouri. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Associated Press

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) - The Joplin, Mo., hospital where hundreds of injured residents sought help after a deadly tornado struck the town one year ago today is honoring its staff, rescue workers and storm survivors at a memorial service.

Freeman Hospital held a sunrise service Tuesday morning on a day marked by a series of public events in Joplin. The tornado killed 161 people and destroyed one-third of the city, making it the nation's deadliest single tornado in six decades.

Freeman is just eight blocks from St. John's Regional Medical Center, which was destroyed by a direct hit from the EF-5 tornado. That hospital is being rebuilt, but Freeman was undamaged.

The ceremony's speakers included Gov. Jay Nixon and 17-year-old tornado survivor Malichi Murdock, who was struck by debris at a local community theater.

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