Dedication for Covid memorial
A memorial acknowledging the pain, challenges and loss suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic has been erected in the grounds of Stirling crematorium.
The black granite obelisk was dedicated at a ceremony on Saturday by Bridge of Allan minister the Rev Dan Harper, who himself is suffering from ‘long Covid’ nearly 18 months after catching the virus.
The memorial is surrounded by wild flowers – laid out in the pattern and colours of a rainbow, which was adopted as a sign of hope during the first wave of the virus last year.
The design on the stone features three thistles and was created by 12-year-old Poppy Lunn, from Galashiels, in the Scottish Borders.
About 50 people attended the dedication ceremony at the Bannockburn crematorium on Saturday.
In his address, Mr Harper said: “Love brought us here today and this memorial honours all that was lost in the isolation of lockdown and all that was lost in events not celebrated.
“It honours all that remains lost for those still suffering and all the loved ones we have lost along the way.”
The 39-year-old added that the memorial offered a peaceful and tranquil tangible place to go to “mark that intangible feeling”.
Mr Harper caught Covid-19 in March last year and still suffers from the side effects - aches and pains and fatigue nearly 18 months later.
He is one of an estimated 385,000 people across the UK who are battling Long Covid and the number is growing.
The married father-of-one, added: “Having Covid is horrible and living with the after effects is horrible. However, experiencing the love of friends and strangers is wonderful.”
The memorial stone was also dedicated by independent celebrant Susan Chown who said a few words as did Alyn Smith, MP for Stirling.
Mr Smith spoke briefly in solidarity with all those in pain and thanked everyone who has supported and cared for people suffering throughout the pandemic.
Obelisks have been installed at crematoriums owned by the Westerleigh Group across Scotland, England and Wales.
Poppy had entered a competition, run by the group, to design the obelisk after one of her friends caught Covid-19.