Andrew Peterson and University of Pennsylvania colleagues, Jason Karlawish and Emily Largent, argue in a STAT News opinion that a Covid-19 memorial might help heal America's suffering.
The memorial ceremony held by Biden and Harris at the edge of the reflecting pool was the first time Americans came together to collectively mourn our losses from Covid-19. The image of the 400 lanterns was cathartic. The ceremony affirmed that we need more time and space to make sense of our suffering.
But lanterns can be extinguished. Ceremonies are transient and, in time, forgotten. We need a monument to heal our monumental suffering. We need a monument to never forget.