detroit memorial drive on belle isle

When Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan tasked me with creating a memorial for our city’s residents who could not have funerals, my first thought was of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer who was waging a valiant fight against the #Covid-19 pandemic. I knew that, whatever we did, people could not gather. So I planned a funeral. And I planned it for 1,500 families as if I were planning it for one. Thus, the city hosted 15 funeral processions past 924 photo billboards to give families a chance to say good-bye to loved ones who did not get the home-goings they deserved. The installation, the largest public art in the city’s history, was covered by media and foundations around the world. And it all was the result of a constituent asking the mayor for a memorial, and the mayor saying: “Make it so.”

Belle Isle becomes moving memorial for Detroit’s COVID-19 victims

Aug 31, 2020

Why we need COVID memorials now — and for the future

Feb 22, 2021

Detroit Memorial Day held on Belle Isle for COVID-19 victims

Aug 31, 2020

Detroit COVID-19 Memorial Day

“Today, the loved ones of Detroiters lost to COVID-19 had a chance to have memorial processions on Belle Isle, where the City of Detroit has set up hundreds of billboards honoring victims of the coronavirus. The memorial will be open to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday.”

Detroit honors COVID-19 victims in Belle Isle memorial

Sep 1, 2020
 
Nearly 900 photos of Detroiters and people with connections to Detroit who died during the coronavirus pandemic line Belle Isle on Aug. 31, 2020.

Detroit Holds Memorial Day For COVID-19 Victims

Sep 1, 2020
 
Detroit has recorded more than 13,000 cases of COVID 19. Learn more about this story at https://www.newsy.com/105158/

Memorial honors Detroit COVID-19 victims on Belle Isle

Aug 31, 2020
 
Memorial held for Detroit COVID-19 victims.

Detroit’s Covid-19 Memorial, Families Say Final Goodbyes

Aug 31, 2020
 
Detroit’s Covid-19 Memorial, Families Say Final Goodbyes