Monument to Honor COVID-19 Victims and Frontline Workers Coming to Chicago’s Near West Side
A 25-foot, stainless steel monument, titled “COVID-19 Memorial Monument of Honor, Remembrance & Resilience,” is coming to the Illinois Medical District on Chicago’s Near West Side this year, five years after the pandemic outbreak.
Design and Location
The monument is actually five illuminated multi-colored sculptures designed to resemble a hybrid of a dandelion puff and the COVID-19 virus. The dandelion, which grows worldwide, is meant to represent the universality of pandemic suffering.
A green community space with benches for reflection, meditation, and healing is also planned, said Sally Metzler, who chairs the COVID-19 Monument Commission.
‘Not a Monument of Despair, but Very Much of Hope’
The monument is based on three pillars: Honor is for the front-line workers, remembrance is for those who perished, and resilience is for those left standing and carrying the load and the science.
Background and History
The COVID-19 Monument Commission was formed in 2021 by Metzler, an art historian with a background in curating exhibits, after she woke up one morning thinking, “Do people realize we are living history right now?”
The commission now consists of more than a dozen professors, doctors, authors, and public health experts, including Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Olusimbo “Simbo” Ige.
The commission is leading a grassroots fundraising campaign and has partnered with the Illinois Medical District, a 560-acre special zoning area housing the largest concentration of healthcare facilities in the country.
Pandemic-Themed Poetry Competition
An international pandemic-themed poetry competition will be launched on the project’s website, with a winning poet receiving $4,000 and having their poem read at the monument dedication.
Virtual Memory Garden
A virtual Memory Garden on covidmemorialmonument.org allows donors to “plant a dandelion” — a yellow flower for a frontline worker and a white fluffy head for loved ones who’ve died. Donors can upload an image and text in honor of recipients. Submissions start at $20.
Construction and Park Design
Construction on the monument may not start until this summer or when all details are worked through, said Allyson Hansen, CEO and executive director of the Illinois Medical District Commission.
The Illinois Medical District is designing a community park with green space at the site, which was previously occupied by the old Easter Seals building.
The park will be a place for the community to come together and honor the frontline workers and those who have been affected by the pandemic.
Conclusion
The COVID-19 Memorial Monument of Honor, Remembrance & Resilience will serve as a lasting tribute to those who have lost their lives and those who worked tirelessly to combat the pandemic.
The monument will also serve as a reminder of the importance of hope, resilience, and community coming together to overcome adversity.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the COVID-19 Memorial Monument of Honor, Remembrance & Resilience?
A: The monument is designed to honor those who have lost their lives to COVID-19, recognize the efforts of frontline workers, and celebrate the resilience of those who have been affected by the pandemic.
Q: When is the monument expected to be completed?
A: The monument is expected to be completed this fall, with an unveiling planned for later in the year.
Q: How can I support the construction of the monument?
A: You can support the construction of the monument by making a donation to the COVID-19 Monument Commission or by participating in the pandemic-themed poetry competition or virtual Memory Garden.
Q: What is the significance of the dandelion design in the monument?
A: The dandelion design represents the universality of pandemic suffering and the resilience of those who have been affected by the pandemic.
