How to Watch the Covid Memorial

On the eve of President-elect Joe Biden’s official swearing-in, the Presidential Inaugural Committee will host a national memorial for victims of COVID-19. The event will take place around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C.

There are already Covid memorials around the world — from floral hearts in New York City to empty chairs in Phoenix and a cemetery built using the ashes of 6,000 people who died because they couldn’t be claimed after their deaths. Now, a San Francisco-based organization called Marked By Covid is working with cities to build physical monuments for victims of the virus.

Location

A monument is an essential space to pay tribute to the dead. Its remembrance helps a community confront the reality of tragedy and allows people to connect with others who are also mourning. It also provides a place to contemplate the impact of events and reflect on how they can be changed for the better.

Architects and artists around the world have been thinking about ways to build a memorial to COVID-19. They are asking themselves how this disease, which has already claimed more than 6 million lives worldwide, might be commemorated in a way that will serve those who are still alive as well as future generations.

For example, a temporary memorial was recently erected at the Miner's Welfare Park in Bedworth, England. The 20m (65ft) structure, called Sanctuary, will be open for a week and people are encouraged to adorn the space with messages and mementoes. Then it will be set alight on 28th November.

Another example of a memorial that has been constructed is the National Covid Memorial Wall in London. The mural consists of more than 150,000 pink and red hearts that were painted by volunteers. This public artwork was established in March by the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group and campaign group Led by Donkeys, who have now repainted it with a coat of weather-resistant paint.

These are just a few of the different examples of temporary memorials that have been created throughout the pandemic. They are an essential part of the recovery process and help people understand that this virus has left behind a great number of lives, as well as many questions for future generations.

Some memorials are based on historical examples, like the World War II memorials or the Vietnam veterans memorial in Washington DC. These were a response to the loss of soldiers and their families. But in the case of COVID-19, a monument might be necessary to address the fact that the epidemic has killed more Americans than both the 1918 Spanish flu and the 9/11 attacks combined.

As more than a million people have died in the United States from the Covid-19 pandemic, architects, artists and community leaders are calling for a national memorial. While it might take years to build a national Covid memorial, there are a number of ideas for how this pandemic could be remembered.

Time

In May 2022, a unique public memorial will be on display in Bedworth’s Miners’ Welfare Park. It will stand as a memorable if temporary structure, offering a moment to remember and to be remembered by, in an area with a rich Remembrance heritage.

It will be a piece of art that will stand out from the crowd. It is a large, intricately carved wooden structure designed by Burning Man artist David Best and built using local school and community groups, with more than 500 people on hand to make it a reality.

The 22m high octogonal structure has been dubbed the most impressive piece of architecture in town and its unveiling has garnered widespread media coverage. It is a tribute to the power of public art in the era of social media and the democratisation of design, which has enabled communities to create bespoke pieces of art that are often more meaningful than their creators could have ever imagined.

During the build, I got an up close and personal look at the impressive structure and the people who put the effort into bringing it to life. It is a testament to the resilience and dedication of the Bedworth and Nuneaton communities and the power of collaboration between arts organisations, businesses and the public.

Whether you are looking for the most impressive aforementioned structure or simply want to see what all the fuss is about, it is well worth the trip. You might be moved to tears. There are many other great places to visit in the local area, but you won’t find a better place to be surrounded by good old fashion British camaraderie.

Directions

A guerrilla art group has installed a Covid memorial in London. The mural stretches more than one-third mile (five hundred metres) along the south bank of the Thames from Westminster Bridge to Lambeth Bridge. The mural is a collaborative effort between Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK, who painted it, and Marked by Covid, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that works with cities to create physical monuments to the pandemic.

The memorial is a new addition to the growing body of public monuments dedicated to the deadly Covid pandemic. It joins floral hearts in New York City, empty chairs in Phoenix and a memorial park built from the ashes of victims who died too soon.

The project was conceived by Rima Samman, who lost her brother Rami to the Covid virus in May 2020. She says it was a way for her to remember her family member and to say goodbye. When she posted an online offer to add names of others who had been killed, she received nearly 200 requests. The guerrilla art group Led By Donkeys -- Ben Stewart, Oliver Knowles, James Sadri and Will Rose -- volunteered to help Samman with the installation. They also kept the project secret from MPs so as not to cast it in a political light.

Parking

The Covid Medical Research Foundation has a small parkade to keep visitors safe and secure. The award-winning facility is a short walk from the entrance to the Covid Medical Research Foundation and offers free parking for vehicles of all shapes and sizes. The medical aficionado will also be pleased to know that the hospital is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Guests can expect a warm welcome and plenty of free advice.