The official Detroit Memorial Day will begin tomorrow morning at 8:15 a.m. with remarks by Mayor Mike Duggan along with Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist. The celebration of life will comprise 15 funeral processions driving a dedicated route on Belle Isle and is the nation’s first citywide memorial to honor COVID-19 pandemic victims.
“Members of this community are grieving, it is important and necessary to provide an opportunity for families to celebrate those lost to this terrible disease and begin to heal,” said Mayor Duggan. “We are taking this time to reflect on what has been a very hard time for so many Detroiters and commemorate the lives of our neighbors who are no longer with us.”
“As we remember and honor all of those we have lost to this virus, we must not forget that COVID-19 is still very present in our state,” Governor Whitmer said. “Each life lost was a person who had a story: plans, dreams, and more life to live. We must all work together to slow the spread of this virus and prevent more devastation in our communities. We owe it to our families, our neighbors, the frontline workers, and to our fellow Michiganders to continue taking this virus seriously.”
Mourners will drive past nearly 900 billboard-sized photos of loved ones. The photos represent a majority of the 1,500 Detroiters lost to the virus between March and August 18.
Following official remarks at the start of the memorial drive, residents and businesses across the City are encouraged to ring bells at 8:45 a.m. in memory of lost loved ones and as a show of support for those grieving.
“We are planning to have bells ringing from the Comerica Park scoreboard on Monday for 15 minutes beginning at 8:45. a.m.,” said Ellen Hill Zeringue, vice president of marketing for the Detroit Tigers. Little Caesar’s Arena also will feature a message on its marquee. We stand with the families who have lost loved ones to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
You can stream the memorial LIVE below:
Monday’s memorial processions are strictly for families who have pre-registered to participate. The Memorial will be open to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept 1. and Sept. 2, the public is encouraged not to touch the photos.