Congressman Fred Upton says the National COVID Memorial currently installed near the Washington Monument is a sad reminder of the dangers and effects of COVID-19. Artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg has set up “In America: Remember” in Washington to honor those who have lost their lives to the virus. It features 670,000 small white flags representing the lives lost. Upton visited the memorial for the first time last week and told WSJM News about it.
“It was something else,” Upton said. “You just can’t realize how many that is. This is an area on the mall, and as far as the eye could see, you see these white flags. They post each day how many people that have passed form COVID from the day before. It is just amazing.”
Upton last week planted a flag in honor of Bud Baker, a veteran who was the first person to die from COVID in Berrien County. Upton was to be back at the memorial on Wednesday of this week to plant more flags as requested by Sixth District residents. Upton says anyone who still hasn’t gotten vaccinated against COVID-19 and is eligible should do so.
