Sunday, March 14 marked exactly one year since the first confirmed COVID-19 death in NYC.
Since then, the city has tragically lost more than 30,000 New Yorkers to the deadly virus. NYC held an official day of remembrance, with a special memorial honoring the great loss of the city.
Family members and friends were encouraged to submit photos of their loved ones that had passed, and last night their faces were projected onto the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.
“Shoulder to shoulder, one for another, we will bring our city back together,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The people walking around today, they carry the hearts of those we’ve lost with them. The moms, the dads, the grandparents, all that was great about them, all that was warm, their souls continue on in their sons and daughters and then their grandchildren. And so, it is to all of us to do something very simple, very beautiful, very powerful. It is time to make them proud.”
During the ceremony, Mayor de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray spoke, along with faith leaders Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Imam Abdul Azeez and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Northeast Regional Youth Poet Laureate Ambassador and NYC 2021 Youth Poet Laureate Serena Yang and New Yorker.
Poignant performances will given by the New York Philharmonic and Bishop Hezekiah Walker and The Love Fellowship Choi.
If you missed it, you can watch the memorial service here:
We’ve lost tens of thousands of New Yorkers to COVID-19, but their memory lives on. Join us for the #COVIDMemorial. https://t.co/UMEKz3QJNk
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) March 14, 2021
featured image source: NYC Mayor’s Office