Joe Bachner of Gloucester has a special connection to Riverside Walter Reed Hospital, particularly the hospital’s chapel, and that connection has only grown deeper this Christmas season.

Bachner’s father, Syl, was commissioned by Grace Bible Church in 1991 to build benches for the chapel, and the church donated the benches as a gift to the hospital. His father also made the chapel’s altar table.

Now Bachner has included his own addition to the chapel: a four-foot-tall Celtic cross made of mahogany, which is now displayed over his father’s altar. His idea to add a cross to the chapel came from noticing a need for one in the space on one of his occasional visits.

He began making Celtic crosses several years ago to give as Christmas presents for family and friends. He then began selling them online and has had a good bit of success.

“I like old, traditional things,” said Bachner about his decision to start making Celtic crosses.

In addition to his father, his mother, Dorothy, also had a special connection to the hospital by volunteering for many years in the gift shop. Both of his parents volunteered at the Church of St. Therese on Gloucester Main Street.

“They liked helping people out,” said Bachner.

He inherited a similar giving spirit from his parents. “I like working with people who like to help someone else.”

Though he was one of seven children, Bachner was never in need of anything.

“How lucky am I to have the mom and dad I had,” he said. “Everything my dad did was for the family, and my mom too.”

Bachner and his siblings still get together to spend time with each other.

“It all starts with family,” he said.