Editor’s note: the following opinion piece was submitted by the Jefferson County Health Department.
On June 11, the Jefferson County Health Department (JCHD) convened a commemoration to honor those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and acknowledge small-town resiliency and capacity to thrive.
Those who have been lost to the COVID-19 pandemic were honored and a collective thanks was given to the many community members, healthcare workers and partners who brought Jefferson County through the pandemic which has taken so much and incurred a heavy burden on our County since early last year.
The COVID-19 pandemic and associated burden can serve as a reminder of a shared vulnerability and strength in the face of collective threats. It is vital to honor those who have been lost and those who have experienced loss, and to thank those who fought this virus. It is equally important to recognize the positive elements of Jefferson County’s response to the pandemic.
Small-town resilience, grit, innovation and community strength were acknowledged as protective factors which served to render Jefferson County’s response to the pandemic a success and were fostered to greater capacities than before the pandemic.
During the ceremony, we heard from department staff including: Gail Scott, director and health officer; Elizabeth Chilsen, Public Health Program manager; and several others. A moving personal tribute to an individual who died from COVID-19 was shared by their spouse.
A work of art by local artist Robin Chamberlain Sweeney, titled “Abundance, Hope and Future” and commissioned to represent our community’s resilience, was displayed at the commemoration. This painting is on display at the Hoard Historical Museum in Fort Atkinson through July 2nd, and will thereafter remain on public display in the lobby area of Jefferson County Health Department.
Our seven-day and 14-day average daily case rates are recently stabilized at one case per 100,000. JCHD continues to recommend that all individuals receive their COVID-19 vaccines to protect themselves and their community from future potential outbreaks and illness.
We look forward to supporting a safe, joyous and memorable summer of 2021. Visit the links below to find services, support and other resources available to residents of Wisconsin related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Members of the Jefferson County Health Department and “Commemorating a Small Town’s Resiliency in a Pandemic” program speaker and Fort Atkinson resident David Stedman, at right, gather around art commissioned by the department and created by local artist Robin Chamberlain Sweeney, titled “Abundance, Hope and Future.” The piece, symbolizing the three attributes for which it’s named, will be on display at the Hoard Historical Museum in Fort Atkinson through July 2. The program, commemorating and honoring those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic was held June 11 at the Jefferson County Fair Park.
File photo/Kim McDarison.
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