On Saturday March 13, 2021, Mayor Vasquez hosted a vigil to honor the lives lost to COVID-19. This day marked one year Massachusetts went into lockdown. In the last year, Lawrence was one of the hardest hit communities because of the pandemic. Over 235 members of the Lawrence community has passed away due to COVID-19. During the ceremony flowers, were placed on the chair memorial symbolizing each life that was lost in the City. During the ceremony, Mayor Vasquez said, “I am saddened that we have lost so many individuals, but we are stronger than that; we are going to continue to pull together and I appreciate the great work that has happened.”

Senator Finegold said, “This has been an incredibly difficult year; probably as hard of a year we have ever experienced and there is one thing for sure: The City of Lawrence has raised to the occasion. Although we cannot get back those who we lost, there are some things we can do - we have to get more people in the City vaccinated.”   

Health and Human Services Director, Martha Velez, said “It has been a long year of not being able to hug my elders; it has been a long year making sure our community is healthy and the community to stay strong and not give up. The one thing that I am 100% sure is that we are Lawrence-resilient; we are Lawrence that stands together.”