YONKERS—In a ceremony that took place on a location that overlooks the Hudson River and the Palisades at Lenoir Preserve, Westchester County officials on May

YONKERS—In a ceremony that took place on a location that overlooks the Hudson River and the Palisades at Lenoir Preserve, Westchester County officials on May 6 dedicated a new memorial—the Ribbons of Remembrance—for the more than 1,100 Westchester County residents who have lost their lives to COVID-19.

The memorial is a short walk away from the Lenoir Preserve parking lot in front of the Wightman Mansion. Ribbons and permanent markers will be available at the memorial. Visitors are encouraged to write the name of someone they have lost on the ribbon and tie it to one of two trees or the rope structure.

Visitors are asked to drop used permanent markers in the designated bin to be properly disinfected by parks staff.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said, “We need within our culture certain social points where we can come together. We have all lost people that we know and love through this process. This is a chance to do something tangible to remember that person in those quiet moments, when it’s you, the remembrance of your loved one and nature. We are here near the eternal Hudson and eternal mountains in sky that will be here before we got here and here long after we are gone. It’s a way to remember that these people were once with us, important to us and we’re not going to forget them.”

Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health Commissioner Michael Orth added, “Although we are unable to grieve in traditional ways during this time, it is critical that we allow ourselves and others the time necessary to work through this process in order to move toward health and healing. Connect with loved ones and seek out additional support if you are in need.”