Local buildings will be lit in amber for nationwide COVID-19 memorial

BOSTON — President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will lead a national moment of unity Tuesday night, to honor the nearly 400,000 American lives lost to the coronavirus pandemic and are asking people across the country to join them.

The event, held on the evening before they are sworn into office, is hosted by the Presidential Inaugural Committee and will feature the first-ever lighting around the reflecting pool in Washington, D.C., for a collective moment of remembrance. Communities and citizens around the country are invited to join by lighting up buildings and ringing church bells at 5:30 p.m.

Events in Massachusetts as part of the tribute are also planned. At the Grant A.M.E Church in Boston, 13,600 ribbons symbolizing the number of residents across the state who have died from COVID-19 surround the building.

Hospitals in the Longwood Medical area of Boston will light their buildings at 5:30 p.m. in amber. A MassDOT spokesperson said the Zakim Bridge will also be lit as part of the tribute.

The inaugural committee is asking citizens to join by lighting a candle in their window, ringing a bell at 5:30 p.m during the ceremony, which will be broadcast live on Facebook, and for city buildings to be lit in amber.

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Cox Media Group