The Leader of MK Council has marked International Workers Memorial Day by announcing the city will create a memorial to commemorate all the victims and heroes of the current Covid-19 outbreak.
International Workers Memorial Day remembers all those who have lost their lives at work, and Cllr Peter Marland has said that after the current Covid-19 pandemic is over, the MK Council will help fund a lasting memorial to all those Milton Keynes citizens who have lost their lives during the outbreak, and honour all key workers who have served the city during this time.
The nation will pause for a one minute silence today at 11am to mark more than 100 key workers who have died in the U.K. in the fight against Coronavirus, which had claimed the lives more than 20,000 in hospital alone.
Cllr Marland said: “The Covid-19 Pandemic is a moment of collective importance and collective sacrifice. We have all made changes to help others and we recognise that our key workers are the real heroes. Sadly many people have lost their lives. I believe it is only right that we find a way to properly honour the victims, our heroes and our collective effort.
“Today is International Workers Memorial Day when we remember all those who have lost their lives at work. The Covid-19 outbreak has seen a number of key workers becoming poorly, and nationally many have lost their lives.
"The day also highlights how we fight for the living, and is a good opportunity to highlight the risks many key workers are taking every single day to ensure essential services are being delivered, even as they battle issues such as inadequate PPE supplies.
“We are all currently making huge sacrifices to protect others, however sadly many people in Milton Keynes have already lost their lives, and many key workers are putting themselves on the line every day to help others. Each week to stop to applaud the efforts of those fighting the virus.
"When the time is right, we will come together and create a fitting lasting and permanent memorial for those we have lost and our key worker heroes.”
