Temporary Covid-19 Memorial to Be Removed Friday

October 13, 2021 - Downtown

Scene of hearts. “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 in May. Photo: Facebook. — **Scene of hearts.** “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 in May. *Photo: Facebook.*

By Jade Esteban Estrada, Staff Writer | San Antonio Sentinel

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

The temporary memorial titled 'Deep in Our Hearts: A Memorial to Lives Lost to Covid' will be taken down Friday to make way for construction of the new Civic Park

Volunteers are needed to take down the thousands of hearts that were affixed to the fence line in May

The temporary memorial titled Deep in Our Hearts: A Memorial to Lives Lost to Covid will be taken down Friday, Oct. 15 to make way for construction of the new Civic Park at Hemisfair. Individuals who have a memorialized heart on the fence line are encouraged to move it before Friday morning, according to a City press release.

Volunteers are needed to take down the thousands of hearts that were affixed to the fence line in May. The removal will be from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 15. Volunteers who wish to participate may sign up online and bring wire cutters or heavy-duty scissors for cutting plastic tie strips.

The memorial, at the corner of Market and South Alamo streets, west of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, was a tribute to local lives lost to Covid-19 while encouraging community members to be vaccinated. The City of San Antonio and community organizations came together on May 27 to dedicate the memorial, which consisted of more than 3,400 red-heart shapes (12” x 13”) attached to the chain-link fencing that surrounds the future Civic Park.

Since late May, family members and loved ones have written names, prayers, attached photos, and have brought flowers to the memorial site. Memorial hearts, one for each person who has passed, extended the full distance of the fence line from the corner of Market and South Alamo to Hemisfair, and from the corner to the Convention Center.

“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 in May.

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

Individuals may register to volunteer 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: @satx_writer