Congresswoman Speier to Unveil Exhibit Honoring San Mateo County Residents Who Died of COVID-19

For immediate release: October 28, 2021

Contact: City Manager Department, (650) 286-3220, manager@fostercity.org

Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14) will open a week-long exhibit, “In America: Remember” to reflect on the San Mateo residents who passed away from COVID-19 on Sunday, November 7, 2021 at noon in Leo J. Ryan Park in Foster City. The exhibit is inspired by an installation of more than 690,000 white flags artist Suzanne Firstenberg placed on 20 acres on the National Mall in Washington, DC in September.

“Visiting the exhibit in DC was deeply moving and I want to bring that impact home to my district,” Rep. Speier said. “Suzanne Firstenberg succeeded in illustrating the enormity of the pandemic tragedy. I believe that displaying the white flags in every county in America could help us heal and come together. It is also a way to remember the lives of people who we have lost locally.”

Rep. Speier will be joined in remarks by Foster City Mayor Sanjay Gehani, Dr. Grace Firtch of Kaiser Permanente, and Pastor Paul Bains of WeHOPE. Singer Liz Buljan and bagpiper Fred Payne will provide music for the event.

According to the San Mateo County Health department, there have been 623 COVID deaths and 52,723 cases in the county as of October 27, 2021. The vaccination rate is over 90 percent, one of the highest in the country.

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