Fair Haven To Host COVID-19 Memorial Tuesday Night

FAIR HAVEN, NJ - Fair Haven will serve as one of thousands of communities across the country honoring those lost to COVID-19 during a Tuesday evening memorial. The reflecting pool will be lit for the first time in tribute.

The borough announced the first-of-its-kind event on Monday, Jan. 18 on its municipal website. Residents are asked to participate by lighting up sidewalks and homes at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday in honor of over 400,000 American lives lost to the virus since March.

Of those deaths, at least 20,000 are New Jersey residents. The World Health Organization calculates that over 2 million have died across the globe due to COVID-19.

The ceremony comes as part of a nationwide effort to promote unity ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20.

“The Presidential Inaugural Committee is inviting cities and towns across the country to join Washington, D.C. in illuminating buildings and ringing church bells at 5:30 p.m. ET in a national moment of unity and remembrance,” reads a statement from the borough.

“In the midst of a pandemic, when so many Americans are grieving the loss of family, friends, and neighbors — it is important that we honor those who have died, reflect on what has been one of the more challenging periods in the nation’s history, and renew our commitment to coming together to end the pandemic and rebuild our nation,” said Presidential Inaugural Committee Director Phil Tobar of the initiative.

As of Jan. 18, Monmouth County has reported over 39,900 cases since the pandemic began 10 months ago. Fair Haven has reported 251 total cases, with 34 cases since Jan. 1.

This article originally appeared on the Rumson-Fair Haven Patch