CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine dedicated trees at a state park in Ross County on Friday to honor COVID-19 victims and survivors.
DeWine and Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz dedicated a total of 15 trees at Great Seal State Park in Chillicothe.
"We honor so many different people today," said DeWine, citing the many who have died from COVID-19, as well as those who are still recovering. DeWine went on to honor first responders, health care workers, and other front-line workers directly impacted by the pandemic.
Among those in attendance was Alesha Nelson of Columbus, who lost her father in February of this year.
“It's been a hard year to lose someone to this virus,” said Nelson.
Her father, 63-year old Walter Evans, was a pee-wee football coach in Akron.
“We don't know how he got COVID or where he got it from. Within two weeks, he wasn't with us anymore and it's really hard to fathom how quickly it can change your life,”
As of Friday, a total of 19,284 people in Ohio have lost their lives to the deadly disease.
The trees will be planted by family members of those Ohioans, as well as those who have survived the virus, and essential workers.
Governor Mike DeWine said he there were three sites selected for the grove but he chose the one in Chillicothe.
The Great Seal Park is where Thomas Worthington, Edward Tiffin, and William Creighton gathered to form Ohio’s statehood. After a meeting in Adena, they viewed the sun rising over Mount Logan and chose the scene for the state seal.
“To have something that lives on; that we will always remember that was lost and him it's just really special,” said Nelson.