As the coronavirus wreaked havoc on the world, overheating medical facilities, and plunging America headfirst into the chaotic disaster of a novel virus, HSFL was founded with an underlying common goal: help those who are most in need. From its conception in early March and after learning that so many nurses were having to sew their own masks, our team focused on providing homemade masks to front line workers, detention centers, and orphanages across the Maryland region.
And as we continue into 2021, our team will focus heavily on providing homemade cotton masks to responders and other local facilities that are still lacking in medical supplies. Even though we students, we believe that we have the potential to truly save the lives of medical responders and community workers and it has always been our mission to help these facilities that need the most help.
Yet, as we move into the new year and continent to endure the remaining shocks of the coronavirus, I believe that there are still so many families who are being left behind. In the news and social media across the board, it seems as though blank numbers of cases or deaths are continuously shown. An estimated 348,000 people in just America alone have passed away from the coronavirus, and while the numbers continue to skyrocket millions more are regularly tested positive. These statistics are overwhelming and shattering, but they are still numbers and importantly, people are just numbers. The stories that families have, the people who have passed away, and the memories that close friends and families have are remembrances that should be commemorated.
Several tragic events throughout American history have always been documented and memorialized. During the devastation of World War I and II, 9-11, and several more, memorials have been created to remember the lives lost and honor those past. COVID-19, a hallmark moment that has been a horrifying moment in human history, should be no different.
Though we are still at home, many are still quarantined or chronic illnesses, we still can still honor the people who have passed away during the virus. At HSFL, we hope to provide a space to remember those who have passed away during the virus. For those families who would like to take the time to grieve and share the stories of their mothers, fathers, sisters, or brothers who have struggled against COVID-19, we aim to provide a place to remember the honest tragedy of the pandemic. Losing a loved one is incredibly painful and personal, and I hope this site can pay homage to those very special lives that have been lost.
I believe a website like this should have already been created. But, because so many families are still left to struggle alone and others who are still grasping the severity of the virus, building a site will hopefully show that there is still hope and compassion that is understood.
Despite the hard work and time it will inevitably take to create a new site, contact several facilities, and file through emails of stories behind people, I hope our team will be able to create a site that is meaningful and honors those who have passed away.
Written by Allison Moon
December 31st, 2020