Westchester County Executive George Latimer and legislators held a ceremony and lowered flags to half-staff today in honor of lives lost to COVID-19. 

Westchester saw its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 3, 2020 - exactly one year ago. The county then became the epicenter for the pandemic in New York.

Two-thousand community members were remembered with flags waving at half-staff. For the health care heroes and front-line workers who continue to fight for the community’s safety, Latimer held an interfaith prayer.

“This is a day to consider those people who aren’t with us today, who were with us a year ago today,” says Latimer.

Westchester Board Chairman Ben Boykin said, “So many people we know died alone, without family, without friends, without anyone there.”

Although today is a somber day, officials say it’s also a day to look ahead as more people receive the vaccine and normalcy slowly returns. 

The day of remembrance continues at 7 p.m. with the county executive encouraging everyone in Westchester to give a loud cheer for front-line workers.