Gov. Mike DeWine declares March 9 as 'Day of Remembrance' to mark one year since Ohio's first confirmed COVID-19 cases

OHIO, USA — As the state of Ohio continues its fight against the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, there is light at the end of the tunnel. And where there is light, there is room to reflect. 

During his Monday COVID-19 briefing, Gov. Mike DeWine announced a proclamation that would designate March 9 as a "Day of Remembrance" in Ohio.

The Day of Remembrance aims to honor the lives of those who have been lost during the pandemic and to honor those who have been part of this battle.

Tuesday's date was selected because it marks the one year anniversary of the first confirmed coronavirus case in the state, reported in Cuyahoga County. 

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In honor of the anniversary, the Governor is asking that all flags across the state be lowered. 

"We'll be lowering the flags across the state to honor the lives of those who have been lost and to honor those who have been part of this battle and who have worked so very very hard to save lives," said DeWine during the briefing.

RELATED: Show us the last photo you took before the pandemic changed everything: COVID-19 one year later

Gov. DeWine encouraged residents to reflect on the lives of fellow Ohioans that have been taken by the pandemic and how the circumstances have changed and challenged us. 

In addition to the proclamation, the Governor announced that a memorial grove is planned in one of the state's parks to honor the memorial of those who have died.

See more stories from the pandemic in our Faces of COVID section

On this Day of Remembrance, if you would like to pay tribute to someone who lost their life to COVID-19 in the past year, you can share your photos with us.

Submitting your photos to 3News is simple. Just use one of the following options:

• Use the “Near Me” feature on the free WKYC app. Just follow the simple steps and your picture will be sent right to us.
• Text your picture to 216-344-3300. Just remember to include your name, location and a brief description when sending us a picture so we know who to credit.
• You can also post your photos on social media, but please use #BeOn3 so it's easy for our team to find.

Then, be sure to check back and watch 3News to see if we've used your submission.

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You can watch Gov. DeWine briefing from Monday, March 8 in the player below: