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If you’ve gone by the National Mall recently, you’ve likely seen the huge field of white flags by the Washington Monument. Each one honors the more than 700,000 lives lost due to COVID-19. As the display winds down, News4’s Aimee Cho spoke with families paying tribute to loved ones.
George Washington University student volunteers spearheaded efforts to geolocate and photograph more than 10,800 dedicated flags at the “In America: Remember” art installation on the National Mall with the hopes of providing the public the opportunity to view them online.
For those unable to attend the installation in person, or who simply want to know where a specific flag was planted, people will be able to find the flags virtually via the installation’s website.
Unfortunately time has passed to submit flag dedications online for the "In America: Remember" installation. However, until Oct. 3 you may fill out this form and share memories of loved ones on the COVID Loved Ones map.
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“These flags are incredible; they come alive;" said GW anthropology professor Sarah Wagner. "You have probably heard it when the wind kicks up, and that is extraordinary because that gives us the feel for the collective. How do you take 680,000 and make it somehow materialized to get people thinking, while at the same time honoring each individual?”
Photographer: Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Volunteers with the Covid Memorial Project place American flags on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. Covid-19 cases in the U.S. steadied as deaths approached 200,000. Photographer: Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Photographer: Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Volunteers with the Covid Memorial Project place American flags on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. Covid-19 cases in the U.S. steadied as deaths approached 200,000. Photographer: Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg via Getty Images
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 22: Carmen Wilke places flags at a COVID Memorial Project install of 20,000 American flags on the National Mall as the United States crosses the 200,000 lives lost in the COVID-19 pandemic September 22, 2020 in Washington, DC. The flags are displayed on the grounds of the Washington Monument facing the White House. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 22: American flags at a COVID Memorial Project installation of 20,000 flags are shown on the National Mall as the United States crosses the 200,000 lives lost in the COVID-19 pandemic September 22, 2020 in Washington, DC. The flags are displayed on the grounds of the Washington Monument facing the White House. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 22: Chris Duncan, whose 75 year old mother Constance died from COVID on her birthday, walks through a COVID Memorial Project installation of 20,000 American flags on the National Mall as the United States crosses the 200,000 lives lost in the COVID-19 pandemic September 22, 2020 in Washington, DC. The flags are displayed on the grounds of the Washington Monument facing the White House. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
(Photo By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES – SEPTEMBER 22: A photograph of Constance Duncan, 75, who died of covid-19 in May, was placed by her son, Chris, at the COVID Memorial Project’s interfaith memorial service to honor the 200,000 people who died due to coronavirus on the National Mall on Tuesday, September 22, 2020. 20,000 American Flags were placed in the grass to honor those who succumbed to the disease. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
(Photo by ALEX EDELMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks near a memorial for people who have died as a result of covid-19 on the National Mall on September 22, 2020 in Washington, DC. – The memorial consists of 200,000 US flags, one for each US victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Alex Edelman / AFP)
(Photo by ALEX EDELMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
A memorial for people who have died as a result of of covid-19 is seen on the National Mall on September 22, 2020 in Washington, DC. – The memorial consists of 200,000 US flags, one for each US victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Alex Edelman / AFP)
Alex Edelman/Getty Images
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks near a memorial for people who have died as a result of covid-19 on the National Mall on September 22, 2020 in Washington, DC. – The memorial consists of 200,000 US flags, one for each US victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Alex Edelman / AFP)
(Photo by ALEX EDELMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pays her respects near a memorial for people who have died as a result of of covid-19 on the National Mall on September 22, 2020 in Washington, DC. – The memorial consists of 200,000 US flags, one for each US victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Alex Edelman / AFP)
(Photo by ALEX EDELMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT – US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi waits to speak near a memorial for people who have died as a result of covid-19 on the National Mall on September 22, 2020 in Washington, DC. – The memorial consists of 200,000 US flags, one for each US victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Alex Edelman / AFP) (Photo by ALEX EDELMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by ALEX EDELMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
A memorial for people who have died as a result of of covid-19 is seen on the National Mall on September 22, 2020 in Washington, DC. – The memorial consists of 200,000 US flags, one for each US victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Alex Edelman / AFP)
Photographer: Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Representative Sean Casten, a Democrat from Illinois, from left, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, and Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block visit the Covid Memorial Project on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden lamented the rising death toll from Covid-19, warning Americans not to become numb to the tragedy as the tally reached 200,000 in the United States. Photographer: Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Photographer: Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Volunteers with the Covid Memorial Project place American flags on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. Covid-19 cases in the U.S. steadied as deaths approached 200,000. Photographer: Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Wagner, alongside a team of five GW students, has been leading student volunteers to fulfill GW’s commitment to geolocate flags. The commitment began when an earlier display outside RFK Stadium was being taken down.
Wagner dedicated a flag herself in remembrance of a loved one.
"We needed him to be seen and recognized," she said.
The total number of COVID-19 deaths continues to rise daily, which can be seen reflected on an enormous sign on the northeast corner of the installation.
“Seeing this and being able to think about each person, give meaning to each single flag is therapeutic, shocking and important,” said student Camila Campos, who volunteers at the installation in between her GW classes.
Due to GW’s proximity to the art installation, about 200 GW student have volunteered to help remember COVID-19 victims. So far, students have geolocated 7,145 flags and have about 3,600 more to go.
Campos herself has geolocated 450 flags.
“There are many phrases I have connected to, because I would have put them down myself. It is very touching," Campos said. "Some flags have pictures pasted to them, or flowers, so I feel like people are treating the installation like a grave, since many people couldn’t have a funeral because of COVID-19."
The installation reminds people they are not alone in their mourning.
