Howard County to honor victims of COVID-19 pandemic with … – Baltimore Sun

Shahan Rizvis father, Amir, died in August 2020 of COVID-induced pneumonia.

Rizvi, who lives in Columbia, spoke Friday during a ceremony to officially break ground on a new COVID-19 memorial at Meadowbrook Park and Athletic Complex in Ellicott City, to honor all those in the county affected by the pandemic.

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My family had to watch my father take his final breaths over FaceTime, as the hospital policy at the time did not allow us to visit someone that had the virus, Rizvi said.

Amir Rizvi, 73, worked as an accountant for more than 30 years and also served on the Howard County Board of Educations budget committee, the Howard County Muslim Council and the Howard County police board, his son said. He also established sewing schools in his native Pakistan, where women learned how to build their own businesses.

Im grateful to have this memorial where we can cherish the memory and legacy my dad left behind, Rizvi said.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and Howard County Recreation and Parks Director Nicholas Mooneyhan unveiled plans for the memorial, which will include three main elements a grove of 42 birch trees, a seating area surrounding a water fountain and a sculpture, according to a news release.

The first tree was planted Friday during the ceremony and another 15 will be planted later this month by contractor Environmental Maintenance, according to a news release.

The remaining trees will be planted by May 1. The benches, fountain and walkways are scheduled to be done by early summer, and the sculpture is set for spring 2025.

Balls fiscal 2024 capital improvement budget includes $150,000 for development of the park.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected all of us in ways that we may never be able to adequately express, Ball said in the news release. As we continue to mourn and heal, Howard County residents will now have a quiet space where they can come, reflect, and feel at peace. ... This project is part of the healing process as our community regroups from the tragedies surrounding the pandemic and it empowers us to come together to celebrate all that we have accomplished.

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The fountain will be made of polished black granite and will reflect the trees and surroundings, even when water is not flowing in the winter.

A sculpture will be commissioned and then placed by the path and seating area. It will commemorate all those who were lost to COVID-19 and will honor those who worked hard to bring help, relief and aid.

This memorial incorporates a thoughtful design that focuses on a space for quiet reflection, Mooneyhan said in the release. This space will allow all our residents to reflect upon those we have lost, including our very own Laura Wetherald, while also reminding us that there are brighter days ahead. Wetherald worked for the Department of Recreation and Parks for 34 years. She died in 2021 from complications of COVID-19.

Howard County has reported nearly 66,963 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic in 2020, according to state data. There have been more than 472 confirmed deaths in the county. Additionally, the state has reported more than 1.4 million cases, which has resulted in more than 16,809 deaths.

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Howard County to honor victims of COVID-19 pandemic with ... - Baltimore Sun