The day includes a symposium, procession and installation ceremony and a community reception.

DETROIT – The city turned an island park into an extraordinary memorial garden Monday as cars packed with grieving families slowly traveled past hundreds of photos of Detroit residents who died from COVID-19. Mayor Mike Duggan declared a Detroit Memorial Day to honor the 1,500-plus city victims of the pandemic. Gretchen Whitmer said at Belle Isle. Cher Coner’s mother, Joyce, had died of sepsis, not COVID-19, but she couldn’t have a traditional funeral because of virus restrictions. He took it and ran with it,” said Coner, whose mother’s photo is on Belle Isle.