This week on the April 1st episode of General Hospital, the long-running ABC daytime drama series celebrated its 62nd anniversary in heart-tugging style with little Easter egg moments and nods to its history led by the talents of the iconic Genie Francis (Laura Collins).

At its epicenter, and as has been promoted, the 62nd anniversary show was to feature the opening and dedication of the “Monica Quartermaine Cardiac Care Center” in tribute to the late Leslie Charleson who played Monica for 47 years.

However, it should be noted, that this dedication was part of the script and the storyline prior to Charleson’s passing on January 12th of this year, and that more of a tribute to the actress, and to Monica will be forthcoming when the series kills-off the beloved character, who has been seriously ill with respiratory issues and basically living bound upstairs at the Quartermaine Mansion.

In the 62nd anniversary episode, many nods were given to what Monica has meant to General Hospital. In one scene, when learning that Monica cannot be at her own dedication, a disappointed Laura shares, “Monica is the heart and soul of this place, and when you think about she is really the one that brought this place into the 21st century.”

Later, Tracy (Jane Elliot) says, “Monica can’t be here. As soon as she rallies, she has another setback. I don’t think this hospital would be standing without my sister-in-law. She should definitely be here.” In another scene, Ned (Wally Kurth) looks at the memorial wall, and he and his mother look at Alan, Edward and Lila and sing the praised of what both Alan and Monica meant to the success of the hospital.

Courtesy/ABC

During the anniversary show, Co-Chief of Staffs, Portia (Brooke Kerr) and Terry (Cassandra James) were saying that if it weren’t for Monica they would not have their positions, and later, perhaps extolling the best line of the episode during the dedication of the new cardiac care center, when during their speech they say, “We ask ourselves all the time, “WWMD – What Would Monica Do?”

However, it wasn’t just the “Monica” moments that made the episode touching, it was when Felicia (Kristina Wagner), Carly (Laura Wright) and Donna went to the hospital’s memorial wall and paid tribute to the late Nurse Bobbie Spencer (Jackie Zeman), and what she meant to the legacy of the hospital, and Felicia in tears and how she misses her best friend, and all that they went through (think BJ’s heart transplant storyline).

It was the moment where Laura and Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) finally had an uncomfortable but much needed conversation about how Alexis’ daughter Sam (Kelly Monaco) died (thanks to Laura’s half-brother Cyrus Renault) after saving Laura’s daughter, Lulu’s (Alexa Havins) life with a live-saving liver transplant. The women hug it out in the end. We also learn in scenes with Laura and Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Sonny and Alexis, that the mob boss with the heart of gold is the secret benefactor of the Monica Q. Cardiac Care Center.

It was also the moment that after Lucy (Lynn Herring) sold Sidwell (Carlo Rota) on all the reasons that GH Nurses Ball is so important to the community in her pitch to get financial backing, that she sat down and told him the story of Stone Cates dying of AIDS and Robin living with HIV, and really brought home the story of the ball, when she spoke of Jon Hanley (Lee Mathis), the attorney who had AIDS with whom she started the Nurses Ball with back in 1994 and how she does the ball each year, “for all the little hearts in my rolodex.”

Courtesy/ABC

The iconic love story of Robin (Kimberly McCullough) and Stone (Michael Sutton) also remembered in a very touching conversation played beautifully by Finola Hughes (Anna) and Maurice Benard. Anna has a kiss from Robin for Sonny, for all that he did to help her and Stone before he passed. It was a sentimental touch played by two longstanding vets of the show.

There was also the moment in the hospital chapel, once again acknowledging that Carly and Sonny are still at the show’s epicenter, when Sonny tells Carly, he would never bet against her in anything. Carly, in an emotional moment recalls the importance of GH and says, “I see my mom and the nurses station. I had my babies here. You walking again, and the doctors and the nurses saving Michael so he has a fighting chance. And for the record, I wouldn’t bet against you either!” The moment leads us to believe that somewhere down the line Sonny and Carly will come back together.

At the dedication for the Monica Quartermaine Cardiac Center, Laura tells those in attendance at the new atrium set that she started as a candy striper at GH and is now in the mayor of Port Charles (which is amazing to think about all in itself!) After giving her speech, Lucy comes flying in with Jenz Sidwell to announce that Jenz has agreed to be the soul benefactor of the upcoming 2025 GH Nurses Ball leaving, Laura, Carly, Sonny, Anna and others looking suspicious and not so pleased.

So, what did you think of General Hospital’s 62nd anniversary episode? What moments touched you the most? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.