As a petty and petulant Donald Trump left the White House, 400,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. More than 20,000 people are dying per week. An American dies abut every minute. The virus is about to surpass the number of Americans who died in WWII.
My father fought in WWII and one of my most vivid memories as a child was our family visit to the capitol building. I remember the feeling of awe when entering that huge vaulted dome for the first time. A faded black and white photo shot by my brother documents the moment my father held the doors open for my mother to enter our Nations Capitol.
The National Mall, was covered with 200,000 American flags as a memorial for the lives lost as Joe Biden is worn in as the 46th American president. On January 6, 2021 this was the sight of an angry mob’s violence as they attacked the Capitol.
I had to work through the inauguration but at lunch time I listened to Lady Gaga as she performed the Star Spangled Banner. Her performance chocked me up for the flag was still flying above the Capitol despite the violence of the insurrection just days before. She wore a giant gold pin in the shape of a dove that reminded me of the Hunger Games. The violence the mob had incited was very much like the dystopian nightmare presented in the Hunger Games. Finally this field presents a symbol of hope. Biden plans to begin taking basic health precautions that Trump ignored and mocked. The country will still be divided among those who wear a mask to protect loved ones and those who deny science. Biden want to unify the nation and he has his work cut out for him. One year ago on January 20, the United States had its first known case of the novel coronavirus which was discovered in Snohomish County, Washington.