Mayor Sylvester Turner announced this evening that the City of Houston will participate in the national Memorial to Lives Lost to COVID-19 by turning city hall and other buildings amber at dusk on Tuesday, January 19.
The socially distanced memorial will follow all safety protocols and include remarks from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and invited faith leaders. The combined Honor Guard from the Houston Police Department and Houston Fire Department also will participate.
Simultaneously, a memorial will take place in Washington D.C. and cities across the country. .The memorial in D.C will feature the lighting of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the illumination of buildings and ringing of church bells in a national moment of unity and remembrance.
The First Nationwide COVID-19 Memorial to Lives Lost is Part of The Inauguration of President-elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris. The program in Washington D.C. will emphasize the importance of looking back and remembering the lives we have lost to COVID-19 as we look forward to the hope of a new path and a brighter future.
In Houston, the lighting ceremony will include the following buildings.
City Hall
Partnership Tower
The Wortham
Jones Hall
7 Wonders (Theatre District – west of the Wortham)
The Lyric Center
Main Street square
Montrose Highway 59 bridges/Interstate 69
The Wharf (art piece in front of the GRB)
Uptown Houston / Post Oak Boulevard
George Bush Airport
Hobby Airport
Note: many other downtown buildings are expected to light up, and we will confirm on Tuesday.
The City also encourages all houses of worship and places of business that have bells to join our neighboring cities nationwide to toll the bells at 4:30 p.m. in unity to honor the lives lost to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“it is important that our City and country unite at this time and reflect on the devastating impact COVID-19 has inflicted on our communities. A lot of families are grieving the loss of a loved one. Hosting a memorial and remembering people who died due to complications from the virus will be a nonpartisan event. I encourage everyone to join us by illuminating your building, ringing a bell, and watching the virtual program,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner.
The public may watch the program virtually on City of Houston social media platforms https://twitter.com/HoustonTX or https://www.facebook.com/houstonmayor and on the Houston Municipal Channel HTV.