advertisement

They had 'dreams and plans': Detroit honors COVID-19 victims

DETROIT (AP) - The city turned an island park into an extraordinary memorial garden Monday as cars packed with grieving families slowly traveled past hundreds of photos of Detroit residents who died from COVID-19.

Mayor Mike Duggan declared a Detroit Memorial Day to honor the 1,500-plus city victims of the pandemic. Hearses escorted by police led solemn processions around Belle Isle Park in the Detroit River after bells rang across the region at 8:45 a.m.

Radio station WRCJ, which plays classical music and jazz, added gospel to its playlist and read the names of the deceased.

'œIt is our hope that seeing these beautiful faces on the island today ... will wake people up to the devastating effect of the pandemic,'ť said Rochelle Riley, Detroit's director of arts and culture.

The 'œmemorial was designed to bring some peace to families whose loved ones didn't have the funerals they deserved,'ť Riley said. 'œBut it may also force us to work harder to limit the number of COVID-19 deaths we'll endure in the coming months.'ť

More than 900 photos submitted by families were turned into large posters and staked around Belle Isle, revealing the crushing breadth of the virus.

The pictures show people in better times: Darrin Adams at college graduation; Daniel Aldape catching a fish; Shirley Frank with an Elvis impersonator; Veronica Davis crossing the finish line at a race.

They had "dreams and plans and a story," Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said at Belle Isle. 'œThey weren't finished yet.'ť

Detroit has roughly 7% of Michigan's population but 23% of the state's 6,400 COVID-19 deaths. The city is nearly 80% Black.

'œThe virus exposed deep inequities, from basic lack of access to health care or transportation or protections in the workplace,'ť Whitmer said. 'œThese inequities hit people of color in vulnerable communities the hardest.'ť

An April community meeting over Zoom got the mayor thinking about ways to honor people. Cher Coner's mother, Joyce, had died of sepsis, not COVID-19, but she couldn't have a traditional funeral because of virus restrictions. She appealed to Duggan for something special, knowing that his father, a retired federal judge, had died in March after chronic health problems.

'œI was afraid to speak up. He took it and ran with it,'ť said Coner, whose mother's photo is on Belle Isle. 'œI hope this ignites something in this country and brings healing to the nation.'ť

Monday's tour was strictly reserved for families of the deceased, although the photos were installed and visible over the weekend. The general public can see them again Tuesday.

Janice Robleh visited the island Sunday to gaze at her dapper fiance, Orville Dale, 55, who died in May. He had beaten prostate cancer but couldn't overcome the virus in a hospital.

'œMy last conversation? I get misty-eyed,'ť Robleh, 55, said. 'œI kept telling him, 'You're going to come home. I had a dream.'"

'œThis is wonderful,'ť she said of the park display. 'œIt's so great to see his smile. That's what captivated me. We were planning to get married this year. We had so many plans."

___

Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwritez

A procession of vehicles drive past photos of Detroit victims of COVID-19, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020 on Belle Isle in Detroit. Families have a chance to take one last public look at their lost loved ones in the nation's first citywide memorial to honor victims of the pandemic. Mourners will join 14 consecutive funeral processions to drive past nearly 900 large poster-sized photos of their loved ones staked around the island. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) The Associated Press
A procession of vehicles drive past photos of Detroit victims of COVID-19, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020 on Belle Isle in Detroit. Families have a chance to take one last public look at their lost loved ones in the nation's first citywide memorial to honor victims of the pandemic. Mourners will join 14 consecutive funeral processions to drive past nearly 900 large poster-sized photos of their loved ones staked around the island. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) The Associated Press
A family member holds a sign during a procession of vehicles driving past photos of Detroit victims of COVID-19, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020 on Belle Isle in Detroit. Families have a chance to take one last public look at their lost loved ones in the nation's first citywide memorial to honor victims of the pandemic. Mourners will join 14 consecutive funeral processions to drive past nearly 900 large poster-sized photos of their loved ones staked around the island. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) The Associated Press
A procession of vehicles drive past photos of Detroit victims of COVID-19, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020 on Belle Isle in Detroit. Families have a chance to take one last public look at their lost loved ones in the nation's first citywide memorial to honor victims of the pandemic. Mourners will join 14 consecutive funeral processions to drive past nearly 900 large poster-sized photos of their loved ones staked around the island. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) The Associated Press
A procession of vehicles drive past photos of Detroit victims of COVID-19, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020 on Belle Isle in Detroit. Families have a chance to take one last public look at their lost loved ones in the nation's first citywide memorial to honor victims of the pandemic. Mourners will join 14 consecutive funeral processions to drive past nearly 900 large poster-sized photos of their loved ones staked around the island. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) The Associated Press
A procession of vehicles drive past photos of Detroit victims of COVID-19, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020 on Belle Isle in Detroit. Families have a chance to take one last public look at their lost loved ones in the nation's first citywide memorial to honor victims of the pandemic. Mourners will join 14 consecutive funeral processions to drive past nearly 900 large poster-sized photos of their loved ones staked around the island. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) The Associated Press
Cher Coner speaks to reporters at Belle Isle Park in Detroit on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. Coner's mother died in April, but she couldn't have a traditional funeral because of coronavirus restrictions. Mayor Mike Duggan said Coner had inspired him to come up with a way to honor Detroit residents who died of COVID-19. Photos of hundreds of people are staked at the island park as part of a citywide memorial day. (AP Photo/Ed White) The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.