Cornell College to participate in national remembrance event

January 14, 2021

Cornell College will be participating in a nationwide event to commemorate those who have died in the pandemic.

College Hall BellOn Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 4:30 p.m. the Rev. Catherine Quehl-Engel, the college chaplain, will ring the bell on top of College Hall. She will ring it a symbolic number of times to represent the number of people who have died from COVID-19 in the U.S.

The U.S. Presidential Inaugural Committee will be holding a lighting event prior to the Inauguration at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and is inviting communities around the country to light up buildings and ring church bells as a national moment of remembrance.

“This is an act of healing and love. It will help us grieve and heal together regardless of political affiliation as we all have been impacted collectively and individually by the pandemic,” Quehl-Engel said.

Quehl-Engel reached out to local churches once she heard about this effort. The following churches have notified her of their intentions to participate.

  • First Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon
  • United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon
  • St. John the Baptist Catholic Church of Mount Vernon
  • Seeds of Faith Lutheran Church of Lisbon

Quehl-Engel says individuals can get involved from home as well by lighting a cancel for the nation on Jan. 19 at 4:30 p.m.