Remembrance memorial
Nevada County COVID-19 Memorial Remembers 136 Lives Lost and Gives Community a Place to Grieve
A year after the first recorded death in Nevada County, the interactive Remembrance Memorial opened in Robinson Plaza, downtown Nevada City in April of 2021, traveled to downtown Truckee in June, the Madelyn Helling Library in September and the Rood Center in December.
* Note: The first community member died from Covid-19 on April 3rd, 2020. When the sculpture opened a year later, in April of 2021, we hung 75 engraved rings honoring community members we had lost. Now, on April 5, 2022, have 136 people we are remembering; 74 men and 62 women from our county. This sculpture was designed as a way for our community to come together and acknowledge the challenges we’ve faced over the past two years and the people we’ve lost. This crisis has left no one untouched, with unprecedented changes and stress in work, school, recreation, travel, social activities and health. The people who lost loved ones due to the disease suffered their grief without the comfort of gathering together with their families and community. We hope this sculpture has been able to unite us in our shared loss and helped our community begin to heal.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“Remembrance Memorial at Madelyn Helling Library”
Nevada City, CA September 20, 2021
On September 20th, a Covid-19 memorial was installed in the lobby of the Madelyn Helling Library, in Nevada City, California. It will remain in residence for six weeks.
The Remembrance Memorial is a place to grieve the community members of Nevada County who have lost their lives to Covid-19.
The memorial is woven of elements from Nevada County - manzanita, willow and granite. Each manzanita ring is engraved to honor a lost community member. At the time of this writing 99 manzanita rings are in place on the memorial to represent 99 Nevada County residents who have lost their lives to Covid-19.
“Normally, we would be able to come together and grieve the loss of members of our community,” said Alicia Funk, one of the organizers of the memorial. Due to the need for social distancing and to protect the privacy of families, that has not been able to happen.”
“We’re honored to host the Remembrance Memorial,” said County Librarian Nick Wilczek, “It’s a beautiful piece of work and it’s my hope that many members of our community will come experience it.”
The community is invited to write messages of what they’ve lost during the Pandemic and send condolences to the families on papers attached to the memorial. To add obituaries and photos of Nevada County community members that have passed due to COVID, please send a message.
For more information on the library please visit https://www.mynevadacounty.com/290/Library or call 530-265-7050.
Nevada County Community Library
Rachel Tucker, Branch Manager
530-265-7050
The Nevada County community members that have lost their lives will be remembered.
