MADISON (WKOW) -- For 27 minutes Monday night, the darkness outside the Alliant Energy Center illuminated in alternating red and blue because of lights from dozens of local emergency vehicles in a public tribute to the 273 people in Dane County who have died from COVID-19.
"From first responders to the hospital staff to everybody, it's affected everybody one way or another," said David Snow, a medic with Fitch-Rona EMS. "The least we can do is come out and do this."
Fire engines, ambulances, police cars and other emergency vehicles from communities all across the county joined Snow.
The memorial kicked off with a song and speeches from Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway.
"I think it's important that now that we've come up on the one year mark, that we come together as a community and reflect and acknowledge the challenges that we've been through due to this pandemic," Parisi told 27 News Monday afternoon.
In her speech, Rhodes-Conway said the memorial's purpose was two-fold.
"Today, we honor those who have lost their lives to the virus and celebrate those who have survived," she said.
Both points hit home for Snow.
"Personally, I had a friend of mine die," he said. "So, I felt it was important to be here, too. But it's been a tough few months, I guess, and it's just the best thing for us to do is to be out here to show the community that we stand together."
Parisi said he was particularly proud of how man emergency services agencies wanted to be part of the event.
"The first responder community was incredible," he said. "When we put out the call for folks to participate, every hand in the room went up."
The 27 News crew counted vehicles from at least 17 different agencies.
"These folks have been through a lot," Parisi said. "They continue to be there for us. They want to honor the people who lost their lives, and they want to honor their fellow responders and everyone in this community who has done so much to help their neighbors."
Parisi said he also hopes the memorial will mark the start of a new, more hopeful phase of the pandemic.
"We've been there for one another, and that is what has given us our strength," he said. "And we'll be there with one another as we emerge from this pandemic as well."
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March 02, 2021 at 11:40AM
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Madison, Dane County 'Light the Night' to honor pandemic deaths, first responders - WKOW
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