Over 600,00 White Flags Placed in the US to Commemorate COVID Deaths

Thousands of white flags have been plated in the National Mall in Washington D.C. to honor the COVID-19 deaths in the United States. From September 17 to October 3, “In America: Remember” will occupy a federal park near the Washington Monument.

Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg, the artist behind the project, planted 267,000 flags to represent the 600,000 people who have died. She chose the flags as symbols because of the meaning they already convey and for their practicality. The color white was chosen as a sign of purity and spirit. This feature also allows people to personalize them.

As long as the memorial is being exhibited, everyone who has lost someone to the pandemic can submit a dedication for the flag. This has caught the attention of the public and has attracted many passersby who stop and pay their respects.

Those who cannot visit the National Mall can see the installation through the website and write a virtual tribute. Volunteers at the memorial are in charge of handwriting these messages on the flags and placing them in the exhibition. By clicking on individual flags, online visitors can see the words written on each one.

The place for the installation was carefully thought out to accompany the message behind it. By positioning it next to the African American History Museum, Firstenberg called attention to how people of color have been more affected by the deadly virus. Due to social inequality, Black Americans were more exposed to the infection while being less likely to get vaccinated.

“Inequity is at the core of why communities of color have been disproportionately affected by this,” said Firstenberg while talking about the chosen location.

Additionally, the author wanted to encourage Americans to get vaccinated. As of today, over 692.000 people have died because of COVID in the U.S. and millions of families have been affected. Therefore, she hoped this shocking visual image served as a reminder of the deadly consequences of the pandemic.

Bibliography

Cameron, C. (2021, July 15) White flags along the National Mall will mark more than 600,000 U.S. Covid deaths. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/15/us/politics/national-mall-white-flags-covid-deaths.html

Hartigan, R. (2021, September 17) 670,000 flags on the National Mall pay tribute to America’s devastating COVID-19 losses. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/flags-on-national-mall-pay-tribute-to-americas-devastating-covid-19-losses

Lowe, L. (2021, September 20) Flag memorial on National Mall is powerful tribute to lives lost from COVID-19. Today. https://www.today.com/news/flag-memorial-national-mall-honors-lives-lost-covid-19-t231587