ELLICOTT CITY, MD — County officials unveiled the final piece of Howard County’s new COVID-19 memorial at the Meadowbrook Park in Ellicott City, a 16-foot-tall bronze and stainless steel sculpture.
Crafted by Florida artists Jim Benedict and Lily Kuonen, the sculpture features fabricated bronze and native Bay Forget-Me-Not flowers, memorialized and supported by a stainless-steel base. The flowers represent the cycle of life – from buds to blossoms – and symbolize remembrance, comfort, hope, empathy, compassion and the strength of the human spirit, celebrating the connections that bring the community together, leaders stated.
“This remarkable work of art honors every life lost during the COVID-19 pandemic and pays tribute to the healthcare workers, essential staff and community members who worked tirelessly to carry us through,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “Here in Howard County, we have always been a strong, united community and through the trials of the pandemic, we leaned on one another — we endured, we supported and we healed.”
Benedict and Kuonen’s design was chosen from more than 40 submissions and is featured among the memorial’s 44 native River Birch trees and polished black granite water feature surrounded by stone benches, which Ball revealed in September 2024 at the Memorial’s official opening.
Like the sculpture, the memorial’s other features also contain symbolism, officials said at the unveiling. The native River Birch trees were selected for their resilience and representation of renewal and growth, and their seasonal transformation adds natural beauty and reflection. The water feature and benches offer a spot to sit where visitors can reflect and remember.
“Through this memorial, the Department of Recreation & Parks is honored to offer a space for quiet reflection — a place where our community can come together, remember and find peace,” said county recs and park director Nick Mooneyhan. “This grove is not only a tribute — it is also a beautiful and accessible addition to Meadowbrook Park and the surrounding community. All may visit any time the park is open.”
Located at 5001 Meadowbrook Lane in Ellicott City, Meadowbrook Park features baseball fields, a large playground for all abilities, tennis courts, basketball courts and about 2.5 miles of sidewalks and pathways that circle the park.
Final Piece Of COVID-19 Memorial Unveiled At Meadowbrook Park originally appeared on the Ellicott City Patch
