Chatham Marks Memory Of 500K Americans Lost To Coronavirus

CHATHAM, NJ — The coronavirus has taken 10 lives from Chatham Borough, 37 from Chatham Township and now 500,000 in the United States. It's difficult to put the loss into words outside of listing the brutal statistics, but Chatham officials and faith leaders tried.

The borough and township came together Sunday evening in a service of prayer and remembrance for those who died from COVID-19. The front lawn at the Library of the Chathams now has 500 purple flags — one for every 1,000 Americans lost — and 47 white flags for each Chatham resident who succumbed to the virus.

The United States surpassed 500,000 coronavirus deaths Sunday, according to NBC News. During the service, a bell rung 50 times for each 1,000 Americans lost.

"Their deaths do not diminish the light they brought to this world," said Township Mayor Tracy Ness. "Tonight we give thanks for their lives, and we ask God to be with us in our grief."

Although the virus has impacted nearly everyone, only about 20 or 30 people attended the service. Chatham officials wanted to keep it small to maintain social distancing, so officials didn't publicize the event beforehand.

Chatham Borough officials hold a weekly meeting with local faith leaders. A few weeks ago, they realized the nation's COVID-19 death toll would approach 500,000 and wanted to figure out a way to pay tribute.

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Rev. Ellen Kohn-Perry, of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, gathered her youth group to make the flags and lay them out in front of the library. Each flag has a light sticker that glows in the night.

"The idea is we wanted each flag to have a representation of the soul that passed and the light they had brought into the world," Kohn-Perry told Patch.

The service's attendees included Bill Nauta's family. Nauta, a retired Chatham Borough police officer, died April 10 from COVID-19. His community involvement included helping Boy Scout Troop 28, working with the John Taylor Babbitt Foundation to get AEDs for Chatham fields, and serving as co-president of the Chatham Middle School PTO and co-leader for Brownies & Girl Scouts.

Borough Mayor Thaddeus Kobylarz highlighted Nauta's life during the service. Nauta, 72, was one of many who left their mark before succumbing to the virus.

"Each death matters," Kobylarz said. "Each person was loved by friends and family in this life and leaves behind both deep grief and cherished memories."

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