Suffolk church honoring each American life lost to COVID-19 with bell tolls 24/7
In Downtown Patchogue, the hustle and bustle of Main Street is now punctuated by a mournful sound. As of this past Sunday, the 850-pound bell at the Congregational Church of Patchogue is ringing every six seconds, 24 hours a day for two weeks in honor of the lives lost during the pandemic,
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Oct 21, 2020, 2:21 AM
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Updated 1,547 days ago
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531ds agoA Suffolk church is honoring the roughly 218,000 Americans who have died from the coronavirus thus far.
In Downtown Patchogue, the hustle and bustle of Main Street is now punctuated by a mournful sound. As of this past Sunday, the 850-pound bell at the Congregational Church of Patchogue is ringing every six seconds, 24 hours a day for two weeks in honor of the lives lost during the pandemic.
The solemn tribute is called "For Whom the COVID Bell Tolls." The idea came from church pastor Rev. Dwight Lee Wolter to serve as a reminder of the human toll of the pandemic.
"I can imagine when I hear 'bong,' that was a waiter, 'bong,' that was immigrant grandmother, 'bong,' that was a first responder, 'bong,' that was an Uber driver," says Wolter.
Each bell tolls signifies one life. At the end of the two weeks, there will be 218,000 bell chimes representing 218,000 who have died of COVID-19 to this point. The bell will toll until Nov. 1 -- All Saints Day.
Not everyone is on board with the bells chiming 24/7 for two weeks. And some took to social media to make their opposition loud and clear.
One person wrote in all caps on the reverend's Facebook page, "STUPID STUPID STUPID THING TO DO. DISTURBING THE PEACE."
Another said, "The residents will not stand for this inconsiderate, rude and unnecessary foolishness." The church's pastor also says the bell's volume can be controlled.
Wolter's response was a simple one, "Death is annoying and death is disruptive."
"Come and listen to the bell and it'll soothe your soul and remind you that For Whom Covid Bell Tolls, next time might just be you and then we will remember you too," he says.
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