City, County, Community Organizations Partner to Honor Lives Lost to Covid-19

May 31, 2021 - Downtown

Gone, but not forgotten. “All of us know someone whether it was a mother, father, sister, brother, co-worker or dear friend who has died since the pandemic began more than a year ago, and this memorial will allow each of us to remember and reflect upon that loss,” said Assistant City Manager Colleen Bridger on Thursday. Photo: City of San Antonio.

Gone, but not forgotten. “All of us know someone whether it was a mother, father, sister, brother, co-worker or dear friend who has died since the pandemic began more than a year ago, and this memorial will allow each of us to remember and reflect upon that loss,” said Assistant City Manager Colleen Bridger on Thursday. Photo: City of San Antonio.

By Jade Esteban Estrada, Staff Writer | San Antonio Sentinel

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

  • Organizations came together Thursday to honor the more than 3,400 lives lost to Covid-19 by creating a memorial
  • "Deep in Our Hearts" will consist of more than 3,400 red heart shapes attached to the chain link fencing that surrounds the future Civic Park

The City of San Antonio and community organizations came together Thursday to honor the more than 3,400 lives lost to Covid-19 by creating a memorial and encouraging others to get vaccinated. 

The memorial, Deep in Our Hearts: A Memorial to Lives Lost to COVID, is now available for public viewing. Family members of those who have died from Covid-19 are invited to write name(s), prayers, attach photos or bring flowers to the memorial site any time while on display at the future site of Civic Park, located at the corner of Market and South Alamo streets, west of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. 

Deep in Our Hearts will consist of more than 3,400 red-heart shapes attached to the chain link fencing that surrounds the future Civic Park. The memorial will provide a visual remembrance of our fellow San Antonians that have been lost and a physical location for people to remember, mourn, and heal. 

“I know how important and meaningful this memorial is to all the families who lost their loved ones because of the coronavirus, so again I offer my sincerest condolences to all of you who have been impacted,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg on Thursday. “I am glad to see that we as a community have made the effort and taken the time to honor these cherished lives. I would also like to acknowledge all of our community partners who collaborated on the creation of this beautiful memorial.”

Memorial partners to date include Bexar County, Bridges to Care San Antonio, Christ Episcopal Church, Compassionate San Antonio, Compassionate SA Grassroots, Department of Human Services, Metro Health, FPC Architects, HemisFair Development and Conservancy, Lackland Chaplaincy, City of San Antonio Mayor’s Office, sacrd.org, San Antonio Food Bank, and the Jewish Federation. 

“All of us know someone whether it was a mother, father, sister, brother, co-worker or dear friend who has died since the pandemic began more than a year ago, and this memorial will allow each of us to remember and reflect upon that loss,” said Assistant City Manager Colleen Bridger. “And just as the name of the memorial implies, they will always remain deep in our hearts.”

More details about the memorial can be found here. 



Jade Esteban Estrada is a staff writer for the San Antonio Sentinel, where he covers public health and other citywide issues. jade@sasentinel.com | Twitter: @getjaded