Image credit: Miriam Bloom

Ninth grader Elena Bloom holds a candle during a Brighter Together National COVID-19  Memorial Service Jan. 19, a nationwide event dedicated to those who have lost their lives to COVID-19. Elena discovered the memorial after neighbors circulated a news story about it on their neighborhood Facebook group. “I chose to participate because COVID has taken a lot from everybody, and I think it was worth acknowledging,” Elena said.