NoVA Commission Remembers Residents Lost To COVID-19

NORTHERN VIRGINIA — Fairfax County hosted the Northern Virginia Regional Commission’s COVID-19 remembrance on Wednesday evening at the Fairfax County Government Center.

The ceremony honored and remembered the 2,364 people who have died from COVID-19 in the 13 jurisdictions that make up the regional commission, which represents a population of more than 2.5 million people.

A display of 236 small flags were placed at the ceremony, with each flag representing 10 people who have died from COVID-19 in the region over the past 15 months.

At the remembrance, Falls Church Mayor David Tarter, chairman of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, welcomed the attendees who gathered "to grieve for all the lives that have been cut short."

Jeffrey McKay, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, noted that the county flags at the government remain at half-staff to remember the lives lost and the heroism of the front-line workers during the pandemic. The county flags were lowered to half-staff at the beginning of the pandemic.

“We will never forget the real human toll of this pandemic — the people, the personalities that these flags behind me represent — and we will always honor those who we have sadly lost,” McKay said, addressing the crowd inside the government center.

Fairfax County officials are working to set up a permanent memorial for victims of the pandemic, McKay said.

During the remembrance, the commission held a ceremonial ringing of the bell, a tradition used by fire departments across the country to honor members who have died in the line of duty. On Wednesday night, officials from each jurisdiction in Northern Virginia came to the front for a ceremonial ringing of the bell on behalf of the people who have died from COVID-19 in their communities.

"The sound of the bell heals us," Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department Chief John Butler said at the ceremony.