Joe Biden holds a nationwide COVID-19 memorial to honor the nearly 400,000 lives lost in the United States to pandemic.
Several families came out to wave to Biden’s motorcade as it drove through Anacostia before crossing the river on the way to the National Mall.
Biden’s first stop in Washington is a memorial for lives lost in the pandemic set up by the inaugural committee around the reflecting pool of the Lincoln Memorial. To get there, the motorcade rolled through the largely deserted tidal basin past the Jefferson Memorial.
The Biden kids and grandkids (and significant others) pose for a group photo in front of the reflecting pool and Washington Monument. pic.twitter.com/TTT3ckPzMi
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) January 19, 2021
Roads that would otherwise be busy near 5 pm were empty, tall fences blocked off large sections of the Mall and the grass in front if the Washington Monument, and were guarded by National Guard and police. Biden arrived at the Lincoln Memorial at 4:55 pm. Rows of white rectangular monoliths line the north and south sides of the reflecting pool and will likely be lit up as the sun goes down.
Pool is now holding on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. A sunset has cast tangerine glow on the Washington monument, offset by a pink sky behind it.
The COVID-19 memorial is President-elect Biden’s first stop after arriving in Washington, D.C. Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President-elect Harris, and Douglas Emhoff are also in attendance. This is the first-ever lighting around the reflecting pool of the Lincoln Memorial.
President-elect Joe Biden: To heal, we must remember. It’s hard sometimes to remember. But that’s how we heal. It’s important to do that as a nation.
Just after 5:30 pm, Biden spoke in front of the reflecting pool where a memorial to those lost to COVID was set up.
“To heal, we must remember. It’s hard sometimes to remember, but that’s how we heal. It’s important to do that as a nation,” he said.
The columns along the pool lit up at 5:32 pm. After listening to a solo rendition of “Allelujah”, Biden and Jill Biden and Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff stood in silent reflection. The motorcade then made the quick trip up 17th Street to Blair House where Biden is staying the night. Pool did not see Biden enter Blair House. A lid has been called at 5:50 pm.
A few additional notes from the day: When Biden landed at JBA earlier he was greeted by Colonel Stephen P. Snelson, Commander, 89th Airlift Wing and his wife Catherine Snelson, and chatted with them briefly. He also chatted with: Usss dir Jim Murray Usss deputy dir Leon Newsome Usss Assistant Director Kim Cheatle
Per Biden transition team, Biden family/spouses/significant others on Biden’s plane from Wilmington to JBA:
Ashley Biden
Howard Krien
Hunter Biden
Melissa Cohen
Baby Beau
Naomi Biden
Peter Neal
Finnegan Biden
Maisey Biden
Hunter Biden
Natalie Biden