A milestone and memorial 1 year into pandemic

St. Elizabeth hospital will place sculpture to mark yearlong health crisis

YOUNGSTOWN -- St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital will be home later this year to a large memorial to remember and honor those directly affected by the yearlong health pandemic.

This Mercy Health memorial "is a testament to the continued generosity rooted in those living in the Mahoning Valley," said Paul S. Homick Jr., Mercy Health Foundation-Mahoning Valley's president.

Homick spoke during a news conference Thursday at the hospital to announce plans to establish the memorial and raise $150,000 for the project.

"The campaign has already begun, and with the help of the community, we can permanently memorialize the significance of the COVID-19 pandemic while paying tribute to those who sacrificed greatly," he said, noting that nearly $50,000 has been generated so far.

Thursday also marked the one-year anniversary of the Valley's first confirmed COVID-19 case, as well as the World Health Organization's declaration that the coronavirus was a pandemic.

The memorial's centerpiece will be a bronze sculpture, titled "When I was Sick," that renowned artist Timothy Schmalz created. A similar piece of his is housed at Santo Spirito Hospital in Rome, Homick said, adding that the local memorial likely will be finished this September.

Schmalz's sculpture also is part of a series of several of his that have been or will be installed in various Youngstown area churches, including "Homeless Jesus," that will be at St. Columba Cathedral, "When I Was Naked" at St. John's Episcopal Church and "When I was Hungry and Thirsty" at First Presbyterian Church. There are other organizations looking to install the last two sculptures in this series -- making the city of Youngstown one of only a few cities in the world to be home to all six sculptures.

The memorial at St. Elizabeth also will have three bronze plaques in the background, one of which will be to recognize and thank doctors, nurses and other caregivers and frontline workers. Another will honor those who have died or experienced COVID-19-related illnesses, along with their families; the other will serve as a historical record regarding the pandemic, Homick explained.

In addition, the permanent project near the park Avenue entrance will provide opportunities for people to pay homage to their lost loved ones, as well as a place for reflection and another way to express appreciation to those on the front lines fighting the health crisis, he continued.

"The sculpture will challenge viewers to see the suffering of the sick and the infirm, as these people are the easiest to overlook," Homick said, adding that the project will include a time capsule to be opened March 11, 2120 -- 100 years to the day after the pandemic officially began.

"The community has shown an incredible response and support over the last 12 months" on behalf of health care workers, who are "true heroes," Jonathan Fauvie, Mercy Health-Youngstown's public-relations director, said.

Those interested in making a donation to the Mercy Health Foundation-Mahoning Valley are asked to visit www.foundation.mercy.com/youngstown, or call 330-729-1180.

"One year later and I don't believe anyone could have predicted we would still be fighting the invisible enemy we know as COVID-19," said Dr. John Luellen, market president, Mercy Health-Youngstown.

"Today we remember those we lost, remind ourselves of the blessing to have survivors and the dedication of our health care workers, in all levels and health systems."

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