As the grim five-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic passes, communities in Arizona have continued to honor the memories of those they've lost. In south Phoenix, residents gathered at Spaces of Opportunity to commemorate loved ones with a poignant display of personalized ribbons on trees, as detailed in a report from ABC15. Claudia Valenzuela, who lost both parents to the virus, shared with ABC15, "Now, we can say that they're resting in peace. They're not suffering."
Valenzuela's struggle mirrors that of many who were left to grapple with the devastating impact of the pandemic on their families. As her parents fell victim to COVID-19 in 2021, the weight of their loss was compounded by the fact they both had COPD. Reflecting on the last conversation with her mother, Valenzuela told ABC15, "I told her I love her, I loved her… and I said, 'listen to what the doctors say… we just want to get you better so you can go home.' So she was fine, then she just... next day she was gone."
The somber remembrance activities weren't isolated to Phoenix. The Arizona Historical Society, in collaboration with Marked By COVID and the Covid Memorial Quilt, hosted a memorial event in Tempe on March 7, 2022, aligning with the designation of the first Monday in March as “COVID–19 Victims and Survivors Memorial Day.” According to The Arizona Historical Society, the gathering aimed to provide a shared space for stories, commiseration, and collective reflection, a sentiment especially pertinent given the state's loss of over 27,000 lives to the virus.
Moreover, the Covid Memorial Quilt, which was inspired by the iconic AIDS Memorial Quilt, also took center stage at the memorial. The quilt, initiated by student Madeleine Fugate, serves as a living testament to those who have died from COVID-19. In conjunction with the quilt, Phoenix artist Jen Urso took part in the event, displaying her project, Remarkable Presence. The remarkable installation comprised small, pop-up suitcases created from obituaries of those who listed COVID as the cause of death, which serves as a literal and figurative carrying case for the memory of the departed, The Arizona Historical Society reported.
The intention behind these memorials stretches far beyond the mere act of remembrance. They represent a critical support system for those left behind, fostering resilience within the community. As Aimee Esposito, the executive director of Trees Matter, helped illustrate the significance of the event organized in Phoenix. "The space itself shows that story, that when we work together, we can be more resilient, even when things feel desolate," she told ABC15.
