Remembrance, Hope, and Unity Day will honor COVID-19 victims at James P. Small Park in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Names of those lost to COVID-19 will fly high above a historic baseball park Sunday.

Faith leaders and medical experts with the Jacksonville COVID Task Force will gather at James P. Small Park in Durkeeville to remember the lives lost during the pandemic.

“Many seats are vacant at tables around this community because of the pandemic so we want to bring the community together not just for remembrance but for hope,” Lee Harris, Pastor of the Mt. Olive Primitive Baptist Church, said.

Pastor Harris told Action News Jax he’s helping host a Remembrance, Hope, and Unity Day so these community members aren’t forgotten.

Betty Burney, the founder, and executive director at I’m a Star Foundation said the names will be displayed throughout the baseball field.

“The field will be draped with white flags and those white flags with commemorate the death of those who died from the coronavirus. In addition, we’re going to have easels where we will have the names of individuals where people have called in to say ‘remember my family member,’ but we’ll also have some blank easels so that people can sign their loved one’s name,” Burney said.

There will even be a chance for people to get vaccinated for free.

Agape Family Health will be on site vaccinating those 12 and up who want the COVID-19 vaccine.

The task force said the day of remembrance is not only about unity but about increasing vaccination rates among the African American community and reducing vaccine hesitancy.

And Pastor Harris said there’s a reason why this historic ballpark was picked for the community to come and gather.

“This community is historic for Jacksonville, for the African American community.  This used to be the Negro League ballpark and many of persons have come together in unity at this place,” Pastor Harris said.

Sunday’s event begins at 2:00 p.m.

To submit a name of a loved one who passed away from COVID-19, you can email JaxCOVIDTaskForce@Gmail.com.

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