Courtesy photo The empty chairs, symbolic of the 14 COVID-19 fatalities in Nashua, are set up for a Day of Mourning ceremony in front of City Hall.

NASHUA – Fourteen chairs were set up in front of Nashua City Hall Monday during a small ceremony honoring each of the 14 lives lost in the city so far to coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

As the pandemic continues, these 14 individuals are of the more than 100,000 people who have now died in the United States from COVID-19. Mayor Jim Donchess addressed a group of city officials, firefighters and police officers at City Hall Plaza in participating in a National Day of Mourning.

“Since COVID-19 was reported in New Hampshire, we have seen 4,651 cases in the state, 483 of them being in Nashua. To date, the state of New Hampshire has had 245 deaths that are COVID-related,” Donchess stated.

Nationwide, the day was organized by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Governors Association, faith leaders and others.

Donchess read a copy of a national proclamation, which declares June 1, 2020 as a National Day of Mourning and Lament. A moment of silence then followed for these 14 city residents who passed away from the virus. Additionally, Director of the Division of Public Health and Community Services in Nashua Bobbie Bagley opened the event with an invocation and closed with a short prayer and moment of reflection.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with them and their families,” Donchess stated. “We’d like to thank our first responders who are on the frontlines of treatment and care during this time.”

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.

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