Memorials for the COVID-19 pandemic
Several permanent and temporary memorials for the global COVID-19 pandemic have been built. The pandemic started in 2019, and has caused the deaths of several million people worldwide.
Permanent[edit]
London[edit]
The National Covid Memorial Wall is a wall in London, along the South Bank of the River Thames. Started in March 2021, it stretches for over 500 metres and is filled with over 150,000 red hearts hand-painted by volunteers. Each heart represents a person who died with COVID-19 on their death certificate.[1]
The COVID-19 Memorial Woodland is a part of Hornchurch Country Park in the London Borough of Havering, England. It has over 4,000 trees, and opened on the country's National Day of Reflection, marking two years since the first UK lockdown.[2] Also in London, is the London Blossom Garden in the London Borough of Newham, near London Stadium. It has 33 blossom trees arranged in three circles to represent the 33 boroughs of London. This type of tree was decided upon because they blossom in March—the month that the first lockdowns began.[3]
Temporary[edit]
In America: Remember was a temporary art installation in the National Mall in Washington, D.C. from 17 September to 3 October 2021. It had one small white flag placed in the mall for every American who died as a result of COVID-19. At the start of the display, it had 600,000 flags, and by the end of it, 701,133.[4]
Planned and proposed[edit]
The Essential Workers Monument is a proposed monument in New York City to commemorate key workers during the pandemic.[5][6] Skyway Park, a park currently being developed (as of 2020[update]) in Jersey City, New Jersey, will have a COVID-19 memorial.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ "COVID-19: Bereaved families paint mural of almost 150,000 red hearts to represent victims". Sky News. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Ross, Jordon. "Havering opens Memorial Woodland two years on from start of the Pandemic". www.havering.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "Covid: New London garden to commemorate pandemic victims". 27 November 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Gunts, Edward (4 October 2021). "In America: Remember ends its run on the National Mall as flags top 700,000". The Architect’s Newspaper. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Slattery, Denis (2 July 2021). "Cuomo's essential workers memorial being moved after backlash from Battery Park City". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Wong, Ashley (13 July 2021). "Battery Park Monument for Essential Workers Paused After Protests". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ Acevedo • •, Gaby (4 December 2020). "Jersey City Announces Plan for COVID-19 Memorial Park at Former Superfund Site". NBC New York. Retrieved 2 May 2024.