COVID-19 Victims Memorial: Finding Peace and Sharing, Contemplating Life

Đài tưởng niệm nạn nhân COVID-19: Tìm bình yên và chia sẻ, chiêm nghiệm cuộc sống - Ảnh 1. — Unforgettable images during the COVID-19 pandemic

"Now that I think about the COVID-19 pandemic, I still cannot forget the deserted streets day and night, the strangely quiet space suddenly broken by ambulance sirens. Especially during the pandemic, the beautiful tradition of 'mutual love' of the Vietnamese people has been strongly promoted" - reader Hien wrote.

Ideas from the heart

And from that thought, Hien said: "In my opinion, the COVID-19 Memorial should have images showing mutual love and the quiet, deserted scene of the street."

Đài tưởng niệm - Ảnh 2. — Collaborators help distribute medicine bags to COVID-19 patients at the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2021 - Photo: X.MAI

Reader ThuanDuc suggested: "I imagine that in the park there will be life-like statues: patients next to medical staff; around the circle are soldiers, militiamen, volunteers in blue shirts, a baby in the arms of a doctor who just gave birth during the COVID-19 moment, and also images of children or relatives silently grieving over loss.

All these images are interspersed in a circle, in the middle is a stream of water flowing forever with a small, immortal flame.

Surrounding the monument are black or grey stone tablets with the names of the deceased written by province, city, district or county. This will be a place for those in mourning to find peace and fellowship.

Each person will reflect on life and the past moments after COVID-19 in the most personal way. This park will recognize the contributions of the city's militia during the epidemic season, and at the same time be a place for COVID-19 victims to share and heal."

Hoang12710 suggested: "Each COVID-19 victim should be remembered with a heart - inside is a QR code. When scanning the code with a phone, people will know the name of the deceased. The material should be durable, resistant to rain, wind, time and easy to clean."

Sharing the same heart idea, reader Duong commented: "Each hand-drawn heart represents a life. It shows the loss not only in quantity but also in the personal meaning of each person."

Reader Ninh commented: "There should be immortal sayings from that time: 'COVID-19 cannot do anything to us', 'Fighting the epidemic is like fighting the enemy', 'No victory, no return'".

A space to heal and inspire kindness

Many readers have expressed their wish that the COVID-19 Memorial should not be ostentatious or mournful, but should be meaningful. Its core spirit is depth, respect for memory, and revival.

The park must be a green space for the people of Ho Chi Minh City, with a harmonious balance between static and dynamic areas. People come to remember, to live, to connect, for children to run and jump - that is the most meaningful revival.

Reader Phat Nguyen expressed: "I hope the city will renovate land plot No. 1 Ly Thai To, dedicating more space to parks and public playgrounds; the memorial area should only be a simple, gentle part."

Đài tưởng niệm - Ảnh 3. — Land plot No. 1 Ly Thai To (Vuon Lai ward), where Ho Chi Minh City plans to build a park and a symbolic project to recognize the solidarity and unity of the city's people in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, is being cleared and prepared.

Readers Giao and Quoc Hung share the same opinion: "Keeping the familiar landscape will help the park integrate into people's lives more easily than a completely new project", "It is very touching to see that both art and architecture experts share the same opinion: the project must show optimism, the strength to overcome pain to move towards good things. This is the spirit that Ho Chi Minh City needs to spread".

The opinion from Long An is noteworthy: "The park is not only a place of remembrance but also a space for healing and inspiring a kind life. Ho Chi Minh City needs such a spiritual symbol to show gratitude."