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Biden pays tribute in Washington to coronavirus victims on the eve of his inauguration

2021-01-19T23:43:26.910Z


The president-elect leads an emotional ceremony on the day that the United States has exceeded 400,000 deaths as a result of the pandemic


President-elect Joe Biden and future first lady Jill Biden at the ceremony honoring the victims of the coronavirus.TOM BRENNER / Reuters

This afternoon the silence that floods the militarized center of Washington was broken.

Nurse Lori Marie Key sang the gospel hymn

Amazing Grace

at the event to commemorate the deaths from the coronavirus, which this Tuesday have exceeded 400,000 in the United States.

The ceremony organized by the inauguration committee of President-elect Joe Biden has taken place in the heart of the National Mall and has set the tone with which the future Administration will address the pandemic, in contrast to the administration of Donald Trump.

“The only way to heal is by remembering.

Sometimes it is hard to remember, but this is how we heal.

It is important that we do it as a nation ”, said the future Democratic president in the brief ceremony.

Nearly 200,000 flags are placed between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Memorial to represent the tens of thousands of Americans who will not be able to attend the inauguration this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and threats of possible attacks.

The artistic display mounted in the gardens of the reflecting pool has been illuminated by 56 “pillars of light” that symbolize the 50 States and territories of the country.

“For many months we have mourned alone, but now the country is united.

We are not together physically, but we are together in spirit ”, said future Vice President Kamala Harris at the ceremony without an audience transmitted by

streaming

.

Cardinal Wilton Gregory highlighted the grievance of those who have lost someone and have not been able to see them off with a funeral: "This afternoon we make this little expression to give you comfort."

In addition to the songs that returned the soul to a muted city center, the funeral bells of the National Cathedral, atop the capital, sounded 400 times, each representing 1,000 victims of covid-19, a black figure that puts the world power at the head of the country most affected by the virus.

For reference, 405,399 perished in World War II, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In the midst of a pandemic, when hundreds of thousands of Americans suffer the loss of family and friends, “it is important that we honor those who have died, reflect on what has been one of the most difficult periods in the nation's history, and let us renew our commitment to unite to end the pandemic and rebuild our country, "said Pili Tobar, spokesman for the Inauguration Committee of the future president.

When Biden swears in as the 46th president of the United States on the steps of the Capitol - assaulted two weeks ago by a mob of Donald Trump supporters - he will not see an agglomeration of people as usual.

Instead, the Democrat will have in front of him a huge American flag displayed in the place where citizens have usually gathered for inaugurations for decades.

In the distance the artistic montage in honor of the victims of the covid-19 will be glimpsed.

When the investiture is over, there will be no parade down Constitution Avenue, no inaugural dance, and no food at the Capitol, all traditions suspended by the pandemic.

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Source: elparis

All news articles on 2021-01-19

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