ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — About 50 people with ties to the Baldwin County Public Schools and their supporters gathered in Garrett Park in Robertsdale to wish the 200-plus non certified employees good luck as they closed their last day with the Baldwin County Public Schools.

“This is a tribute to the people who have lost their jobs or have been transferred,” explained Karen Sweeny of Loxley.

The low-key event was attended by about 50 people.

More than 200 “non-classified” employees from lunchroom workers to Physical Education aides to school nurses lost their jobs Wednesday as the Baldwin County Board of Education had to balance a budget which has seen a reduction in revenue due to lowered sales tax receipts. On Tuesday, Gov. Bob Riley declared a 7.5 percent “proration,” meaning the Baldwin school system will have to make about $7.5 million in furtherer cuts.

“We just wanted to say how profoundly sorry we are to lose our coworkers,” said Sweeny during the tribute.

After a blessing by a local clergyman and the Pledge of Allegiance, there was a tribute to past and present service members and members of the police.

Sweeny gave a tribute to the workers losing their jobs, saying in part that she knew., “as this door closes, another will open.”

Martin Sweeny led a sing-along of “God Bless America,” and Don Sweeny read parts of Theodore Roosevelt’s “Square Deal” speech.

Part of the speech goes, “The welfare of each of us is dependent fundamentally upon the welfare of all of us, and therefore in public life that man is the best representative of each of us who seeks to do good to each by doing good to all; in other words, whose endeavor it is not to represent any special class and promote merely that class's selfish interests, but to represent all true and honest men of all sections and all classes and to work for their interests by working for our common country.”

Sister Margaret Harte, the principal of St. Patrick School in Robertsdale attended the ceremony.

“I came to pray that these people find jobs,” she said. “I know a lot of good people have been affected. … I just want to support those who have lost their jobs.”

For Sharon (she did not want to give her last name), the loss of two cafeteria workers from her school leaves a, “burden we all will have to bear.”

“There will be problems receiving groceries and with serving time,” she said.