Memorials Light Up in Remembrance of COVID-19 Victims

More than 400,000 people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Tuesday evening, President Joe Biden led a tribute to victims at the Lincoln Memorial. 400 lights lined the Reflecting Pool, representing the over 400,000 people who lost their lives to the coronavirus.

“To heal we must remember,” Biden said on the eve of his presidential inauguration. “It’s hard sometimes to remember, but that’s how we heal. It’s important to do that as a nation. That’s why we’re here today.”

Illuminated memorials were displayed across the country, including in Montgomery County:

Tonight, @OlneyTheatre is paying tribute to the 400,000+ Americans who died of COVID-19. #COVIDMemorial pic.twitter.com/Dofp2aHl6x

— Montgomery Community Media (@mymcmedia) January 20, 2021

Tonight the City is joining with hundreds of cities across the country in a national COVID Memorial Tribute by illuminating City Hall in amber lights as a symbol of unity & remembrance.https://t.co/nBkRgMOJ8n#COVIDMemorialTribute pic.twitter.com/dEi9vmLOcu

— City of Gaithersburg (@GburgMD) January 20, 2021

On Tuesday January 19, 2021, Rockville joined in the Nationwide Tribute to Remember and Honor those Lost to #COVID19 as part of a pre-inauguration event.

Live stream of the inauguration:https://t.co/KvkSwfvwhM#COVID19Memorial#Inauguration2021 pic.twitter.com/dmgsToEwft

— Rockville 11 (@Rockville11) January 20, 2021

President Biden & VP Harris hosted a memorial to honor and remember the lives lost to COVID. The ceremony featured 400 lights, each representing a 1000 souls lost. Sally & I placed luminaries around our home in unity & remembrance to lives lost in Montgomery County & the nation pic.twitter.com/SSOnldPnQj

— Sidney Katz (@MC_Council_Katz) January 20, 2021

Look at these homemade tributes here in @GburgMD to those we’ve lost from COVID-19 as part of tonight’s #NationalCovidMemorial
I ❤️❤️ our residents. So much. pic.twitter.com/HOhoBI65M4

— Jud Ashman (@judashman) January 20, 2021

Shepherd's Table joined the national #COVIDMemorial in lighting candles to honor the lives we’ve lost to COVID-19 last night. pic.twitter.com/jQxQZzU3F1

— Shepherd's Table (@shepherds_table) January 20, 2021

About Maryam Shahzad

Maryam is a reporter with Montgomery Community Media. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism. Previously, she was an intern with MCM. She can be reached at mshahzad@mymcmedia.org or on Twitter @maryam_mcm.

View all posts by Maryam Shahzad