In an emotional ceremony, UCLA medical students gave thanks to the men and women who have donated their bodies to medical science for the purpose of helping to train and teach future doctors.

The ceremony by the School of Medicine’s Class of 2004 was conducted Dec. 5 to honor the donors, who indicated prior to death that their bodies be donated to the UCLA Willed Body Program, the first of its kind in the country, started by UCLA physician Carmine Clementine.

Students wrote “thank you” messages that will be included in the cremation process for the bodies; the ashes will be scattered at a memorial park. The service included readings, music and the lighting of candle — 25 in all — for each donor.

In an emotional part of the ceremony, several students spoke about the experience of working with a willed body. Student Janette Marroquin read her poem to those at the gathering:

“To the souls who once resided in these earthly bodies, you entrusted your remains to the soul who you did not know, to us, the unskilled student,” read Marroquin.

“Although we did not know you as a living being, we learned from you so that we may know how to heal the living being,” she added.

The Rev. Dave Myler, who created the remembrance service and heads up the UCLA Medical Center’s Spiritual Care Department, then spoke about his decision to donate his body as a gift to UCLA.

Myler said he feels heartened because he believes the students will recall his name throughout their medical careers.

“Somehow I’ll live on because I know you’ll remember our journey together,” said Myler.

The hospital chaplain added that he was heartened to know that some day in the distant future, one of the candles at a remembrance ceremony will be lit in his memory.