President-elect Joe Biden’s inaugural committee will be holding a Lincoln Memorial lighting ceremony to honor COVID-19 victims the day before he is scheduled to be sworn in.
“On January 19, we will host a memorial to honor those who have died, with the first-ever lighting around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. We invite communities across the country to join us in illuminating buildings and ringing church bells in a moment of remembrance,” the committee announced on Twitter on Thursday.
It added, “During this time when so many Americans are grieving the loss of family, friends, and neighbors, it is important that we honor the lives lost to COVID-19 and renew our commitment to coming together to end the pandemic and rebuild our nation.”
On January 19, we will host a memorial to honor those who have died, with the first-ever lighting around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
— Biden Inaugural Committee (@BidenInaugural) December 31, 2020
We invite communities across the country to join us in illuminating buildings and ringing church bells in a moment of remembrance.
Earlier this month, the committee advised Americans to enjoy the inauguration at home to prevent the spread of the virus, as IJR previously reported.
“President-elect [Joe Biden] and Vice President-elect [Kamala Harris] will be inaugurated during a time of unprecedented crisis for our country,” the committee tweeted earlier this month. “It is their top priority to protect the health and safety of Americans, while demonstrating the strength and resilience of our country.”
It continued, “While the inauguration will look different, we will continue to honor the inaugural traditions Americans have always known: an official outdoor swearing-in ceremony, community service events, a reimagined parade, and virtual celebrations that bring the country together.”
The committee urged Americans to “be a part of this inauguration by watching from home, rather than traveling to Washington, DC.”
Last week the former vice president said the pandemic would be his top priority once he takes office, as IJR previously reported.
“It will be the first priority, the second priority and the third priority — to deal with Covid and bring down the spread and bring down the death rate,” Biden told The New York Times.