Every now and then, my mom passes to me and my extended family email messages about the pandemic, as they are happening in Ohio, which is where I grew up. As mentioned in other articles about Ohio, weather from Ohio tends to travel to New York, so I often use that state as a predictor for what will happen in Beacon.

During this week of the lives lost from COVID-19 reaching 500,000 in this country alone, she forwarded to her children an email from the Mayor of Pepper Pike, OH, which is where my grandfather lives. My grandfather is in his 90s, and lives with the support of his children and caregivers who go to his home to make sure he has his needs met. My mom subscribes to Pepper Pike’s emails to keep tabs on the temperature of his community, and how the pandemic is viewed there.

I appreciated the memorial this Mayor Richard Bain wrote to this community. As we receive what news headlines and articles of the improving case count, lower hospitalization rates, continued struggle to get the vaccine, etc, which can cause conflicting feelings, I thought you might appreciate his words too. They are below.

From my mom (in case you need just a little more Chicken Soup for the Soul):

I know you’ve appreciated other missives that Pepper Pike Mayor Bain has sent to Grampa’s email.

Here’s one more, with perspective on where we are in this long pandemic. And what we still have to do. Even after getting our two shots.

Science rules. Miss you all.

From Mayor Richard Bain
Pepper Pike, Ohio
In Cuyahoga County, Northeast, OH, east of Cleveland, in the suburbs
February 22, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Tonight, and for the next five days in Pepper Pike, and around the nation, we commemorate and honor the over 500,000 lives lost to the plague of Covid-19, the disease which has torn through our country, destroying lives and the families who loved them. It continues as a scourge across our land and the world and many more will die. The flags at City Hall and Morgan Park have been struck to fly at half-staff as a reminder of those who have been lost.

In comparison and to provide perspective, 405,000 members of the “Greatest Generation” were killed in 4 years of World War II. The enormous Arlington National Cemetery has 400,000 graves. The entire population of the City of Cleveland is now just over 380,000. In the future, more permanent memorials to the lives lost will certainly be erected in our nation, but for now, we pause in the midst of the battle to remember those souls who are abruptly gone, literally just months after this all began.

It was less than a year ago, March, 9, 2020, that I first wrote to alert you that the first 3 cases of Covid-19 had been identified in Cuyahoga County. Since that time, Cuyahoga County has recorded 94,021 cases and 1,695 deaths. Ohio has recorded 955,378 cases and 16,874 deaths. COVID-19 became a leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2020, particularly for people over age 35. That remains the case in 2021.

Although the vaccine has arrived, it is scarce for the great proportion of the country, including here. In Ohio, the vaccine distribution, for the time being, is limited to the “1B” population, 65 years and older. The next group of people who will be given access to the vaccine are those 60 years and older, which will be followed by those 55 years and older and then those 50 years and older.

Until the day arrives when we all have access to the vaccine, hopefully in the next months ahead, when the disease has finally been beaten back, we must remain vigilant in protecting those around us from the infection which still stalks us. I thank and congratulate you all who have joined the fight and intelligently battled during the last year. Now, with but some months ahead, we must finish strong!

COVID -19 has not quit or finished and neither must we. The disease mutates and seeks to start afresh as it infects new hosts as the disease continues to spread and exact its awful toll. Stay vigilant and we shall reach the end of this awful challenge. We have no choice but to forge ahead and together reach the end. Take a pause to reflect on what has happened, to think about the lives well lived, but lost nonetheless. They deserve that. This defining time in all our lives deserves no less. Please continue to stay safe and be well!

Sincerely,

Richard Bain