U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — As part of the nationwide “COVID-19 Memorial to Lives Lost,” which will be part of the inauguration events for President-elect Joe Biden and Vide President-elect Kamala Harris, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and Lt. Governor Tregenza Roach placed luminaries and candles to remember the 24 Virgin Islanders who died from the virus.
On St. Croix, Governor Bryan placed luminaries on the steps of Government House in Christiansted, and on St. Thomas, Lt. Governor Roach placed candles on the balcony of his office building while Government House remains under repair.
The memorial will take place at 5:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 19 in the nation’s capital and cities and towns across America. In Washington, D.C., the memorial will feature the lighting of the Lincoln Memorial Reflective Pool and the illumination of buildings and ringing of church bells in a national moment of unity and remembrance.
“As we take a moment to remember our fellow Virgin Islanders and the hundreds of thousands of Americans who tragically lost their lives to this virus and the many families who are forever changed by their losses and the economic impact of COVID-19,” Governor Bryan said. “Let us also take a moment to reflect on pulling together as a community and as a country to focus on our healing and recovery from the pandemic.”
The Lieutenant Governor expressed similar sentiments.
“Today we join countless others across this nation to honor those whose lives have been lost to COVID-19. The worldwide number of the dead and afflicted is staggering. It is both haunting and humbling to observe the loss of life, a massive tear in the fabric of the human family, including 24 precious souls in our own Territory,” Lt. Governor Roach said. “Now more than ever we seek God’s grace and guidance as we try to come to terms with our great loss, even as we continue the good work of keeping our people safe. During this special COVID Memorial tribute, I extend wishes for God’s comfort, strength, and peace to the family, friends and loved ones of those honored here today. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.”
The program in Washington, D.C., will emphasize the importance of looking back and remembering the lives we’ve lost to COVID-19 as we look forward to the hope of a new path and a brighter future.
The Bryan/Roach Administration continues to be committed to transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in government and ensuring the disaster recovery is completed as quickly as possible.