It’s been more than four years since we first heard of COVID-19 and learned just how serious it was. It took so many lives during a time of so much uncertainty, many were never able to properly memorialize loved ones.

In the North Country, a group is hoping a new monument with help bring some of the closure needed.

What You Need To Know

  • Thompson Park in Watertown is the new home of a memorial to honor those who lost their life due to COVID-19

  • More than 83,000 New Yorkers died from COVID-19, including 447 in the Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence County area

  • Organizers say they hope people will reflect on those lost and at the same time, think about the heroic health care workers who risked their lives

“I’d like you all to think back to March of 2020,” COVID-19 Memorial Committee chairperson Allison Gotham said during a ceremony on Tuesday. “It was the beginning of a very, very scary time for many people.”

“Fast forward to today. Three years later, and we finally have a proper memorial in place,” she said of the three years it took for this memorial to be realized.

Thompson Park in the city of Watertown is home to the memorial.

“Because I felt terribly for the people in our area specifically, but in general, around the country and world who were having their loved ones die and they weren't able to do anything for them because they couldn't even have a funeral or anything,” Gotham said of her desire to place the monument. “We needed somewhere for them to be and remember and reflect their loved ones.”

COVID-19 has not only had a massive impact in the North Country where the memorial stands — with 447 total deaths so far. It has taken 7 million people worldwide, 1.2 million in the U.S., and more than 83,000 in New York state.

“The blue sphere represents the world because it didn't just affect us in our own areas, and I wanted that to be representative of the design somehow,” Gotham said. “The black granite base with the waves that you can sort of see, that represents all of our waterways, such as the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario.”

A very real disease, Gorham said, with unfortunately, very real consequences.

She's hopeful that anyone who takes the time to sit at the memorial and reflect on that also thinks about the dedicated health care workers that put their lives on the line.

Gotham says she originally expected the memorial to take about six months to finish, but couldn’t be happier the day finally came.