SAUGUS — Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Corinne Riley is requesting to hold a vigil in honor of the dozens of Saugus citizens who have so far lost their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’d like to see the town start planning a vigil memorial for those who were taken during this COVID pandemic,” Riley said. “Several communities have already held (vigils of their own), and unfortunately, as time starts going by, (people) tend to forget, so I would really like to see the town to start thinking of a way to have a vigil in memory of all those who were taken from us.”
Town Manager Scott Crabtree expressed his support for the idea said the town will look into finding someone who can help facilitate the event.
“I’m obviously willing to help and support (the effort),” Crabtree said. “We’ll talk about it.”
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began last March, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has reported 4,129 cases of COVID-19 in Saugus. According to the Saugus Health Department, this includes 72 deaths.
In the last two weeks alone, the department reported 40 active cases of COVID-19 in the community.
Details for the vigil have not been finalized, but Riley said officials are looking into hosting the vigil at Town Hall sometime after Labor Day.
“When this pandemic began, so many people were dying in the hospital with no one with them from their families or friends, and their last moments were with the doctors who made it as comfortable as possible for them,” she said. “It was just as difficult for family and friends who couldn’t be with them to say goodbye.
“This is one way our community can stand together and remember those who passed and be with the ones who have a hole left in their hearts to show we support them.”
