President-elect Joe Biden plans to include a lighting ceremony in honor of Americans who died of coronavirus as part of the events leading up to his January 20 inauguration.
The vigil will take place at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool the day before the inauguration and will include lights around the memorial and the ringing of church bells across the city, according to USA Today.
Other American cities are invited to participate by ringing church bells and lighting buildings in memory of the lost, Variety said.
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“The inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris represents the beginning of a new national journey,” said a representative of the Inaugural Presidential Committee. “However, in the midst of a pandemic – when so many Americans are suffering from 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 most challenging periods in the nation’s history, and renew our commitment to come together to end the pandemic and rebuild our nation. “
In addition to lighting, many of the traditional inaugural events will be virtual in a style similar to last summer’s Democratic convention, USA Today reported.
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Biden in december Prometheus ask all Americans to wear masks, administer 100 million vaccines and open most schools in the first 100 days of their presidency.
He also criticized President Trump’s response to the pandemic and the slow launch of the vaccine.
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The ceremony will take place at 5:30 pm Eastern Time on January 19.
As of Friday, more than 345,000 Americans have died of the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University.