RICHMOND, Virginia — In the morning of Saturday, March 14, community members, elected officials, healthcare workers, and families gathered in downtown Richmond to observe the Victims of COVID-19 Remembrance Day, an annual day honoring Virginians who lost their lives during the pandemic. The ceremony took place in Capitol Square at the historic Virginia State Capitol Bell Tower, where attendees paused for reflection and shared stories of loss and resilience.
The event, organized by Richmond Delegate Delores L. McQuinn, who sponsored legislation establishing the day across the Commonwealth, marks a painful milestone in Virginia’s history — the first COVID-19–related death recorded in the state in March 2020. In 2021, the Virginia General Assembly formally designated March 14 as “Victims of COVID-19 Remembrance Day”, ensuring that the pandemic’s losses remain in public memory.
Remembering those lost
The touching ceremony included musical selections, prayers led by local reverends, bell tributes, and reflections from community members and government leaders. This year’s speakers included Delegate Bonita Anthony, Delegate Delores L. McQuinn, Richmond City Council President Dr. Cynthia Newbille, and Mayor Danny Avula.
Speakers reflected on the profound pain experienced by families when hospital restrictions often prevented loved ones from being at the bedside to say their final goodbyes. They also highlighted the emotional toll on healthcare workers, who frequently became the final voice a patient heard or the last hand they held. Over the course of the pandemic, tens of thousands of Virginians lost their lives, leaving communities forever changed.
Mayor Avula shared insights from his role at the time as a physician and public health leader, serving as Director of the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts and later helping lead Virginia’s statewide COVID-19 vaccination rollout in 2021. Drawing on those experiences, he spoke about the uncertainty and immense pressures faced by communities, particularly during the early stages of the crisis, and emphasized the importance of sharing stories, supporting one another, and working together moving forward.
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Delegate McQuinn underscored that the day ensures these lives are remembered while acknowledging the profound and lasting changes the pandemic brought to communities across Virginia.
Lasting impact of a global crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped everyday life in Richmond and across Virginia, just as it did across the globe, from overwhelmed hospitals and shuttered schools to economic disruptions and prolonged social isolation. For many families, the scars remain deeply personal.
COVID-19 Remembrance Day serves not only as a tribute to those who died but also as recognition of the sacrifices made by healthcare professionals, essential workers, and caregivers who faced unprecedented challenges. It also acknowledges the ongoing struggles of individuals experiencing lingering effects of COVID-19, often referred to as long COVID.
The ceremony brings together people from all walks of life to remember those lost and to recognize the resilience of communities that endured one of the most difficult public health crises in modern history.
Reflection and hope
Six years after the pandemic began, Richmond’s annual gathering remains both solemn and hopeful. While the worst days of the crisis have passed, the remembrance at Capitol Square continues to remind Virginians that the effects of COVID-19 are still felt in countless households.
As the bell tolls echoed across the State Capitol grounds, they honored lives that mattered and reaffirmed a promise: that the Commonwealth will continue to remember those lost, support those still affected, and carry forward the lessons learned from an unprecedented public health crisis.
