FRANKFORT, Ky. — Tears flowed as Jan Peterson gazed on the new Kentucky COVID Memorial on Wednesday, recalling a lifetime of recollections along with her husband, who died from the virus within the fall of 2021.
Wanting to honor her husband and different Kentuckians who died from COVID-19, 72-year-old Peterson attended the dedication ceremony for the memorial on the grounds of Kentucky’s Capitol.
“Looking back, it’s hard to believe it ever really happened,” she mentioned in an interview. “All the changes that have occurred since then. All I know is I miss him a lot and I know that other people feel the same pain.”
Her husband, Larry Peterson, was an Army veteran who had a protracted profession in state authorities, working in coal mining permits, she mentioned. He was a geologist, a cave explorer, an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan and had a love of studying. Their two grownup youngsters had been unable to attend the ceremony.
Larry Peterson was 73 when he died – amongst greater than 18,600 Kentuckians to succumb to the virus.
Speaking on the dedication, Gov. Andy Beshear mentioned the memorial stands as an enduring tribute to those that died and to well being care employees who displayed braveness and selflessness whereas treating COVID sufferers.
“While we managed to get through so much adversity, pain and loss, this scale is something that we’re going to be living with and processing for years to come,” the governor mentioned.
“That’s why we made the decision to build this memorial,” he mentioned. “Because I wanted everyone who has lost someone to this virus to know that their loved one is important and they are missed. And that we in Kentucky will not bow to politics. We will recognize the loss that we have been through.”
Asked afterward what he meant by his “not bow to politics” comment, the Democratic governor replied: “Just because talking about something is difficult doesn’t mean that you don’t do the right thing. This was the battle of our lifetime. It was very serious, and we should not diminish it.” Beshear is within the midst of a troublesome reelection marketing campaign this yr in Republican-leaning Kentucky.
The memorial – titled “United We Stand, Divided We Fall” – was designed and sculpted by Kentucky native Amanda Matthews. The remaining design for the memorial was chosen by an advisory panel that included well being care employees, members of the family of these misplaced and COVID-19 survivors.
The memorial options a number of figures round a central column that helps a large reflecting sphere containing the state’s motto and seal. Matthews mentioned the memorial displays “the ideals, visual symbols and embodiment of the phrase ‘United We Stand, Divided We Fall.’”
The memorial fund was supported by quite a few donations, together with from well being care methods, the governor’s workplace mentioned. No tax {dollars} had been used, it mentioned.
Beshear was solely months into his time period as governor when he was thrust into main the state’s response to the worldwide pandemic. The governor has mentioned that early projections indicated the dying toll from COVID-19 may soar to 80,000 or extra in Kentucky. He grew to become a fixture on statewide TV all through the pandemic, with press conferences that had been half pep discuss and half sermon on the way to restrict the unfold of the virus. He would learn the age, gender and residential county of the individuals who died.
During a ceremony Wednesday that included songs and prayer, Beshear praised the sacrifices of well being care employees, hospitals, regulation enforcement officers and different front-line emergency employees. He talked concerning the large logistical challenges in organizing drive-thru COVID testing and distributing vaccines.
“I hope that all Kentuckians can come to this memorial and to see what they did to help us to get through this and to get through it together,” the governor mentioned Wednesday.
Afterward, the governor comforted Jan Peterson as they chatted close to the memorial.
Before the ceremony, Peterson was requested what she considered the memorial. She replied: “It’s beautiful. Emotional. I appreciate the state of Kentucky for recognizing what happened here and what’s happened all over the world. And I appreciate Gov. Beshear a lot.”
Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com