What you should know
- Bustling Main Street in Patchogue, Long Island, was heard to the sounds of a typical Monday, but if people listened they would hear the chimes of a church.
- Each chime, which rings from the 850-pound bell at Patchogue Congregational Church, represents a person who has lost his life to COVID-19 in the United States.
- The sound of the duel echoes every six seconds in Patchogue Village, Long Island. This will continue 24/7 for the next two weeks. The more than 218,000 chimes are a solemn tribute to all the people who have lost their lives in the country due to the pandemic.
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NEW YORK – Bustling Main Street in Patchogue, Long Island, played with the sounds of a typical Monday, but if people were paying attention they would hear the chimes of a church.
Each bell, emanating from the 850-pound bell at Patchogue Congregational Church, represents one of the thousands of Americans who have lost their lives to COVID-19 in the country.
The sound of the duel echoes every six seconds in Patchogue Village, Long Island. This will continue 24/7 for the next two weeks.
The more than 218,000 chimes are a solemn tribute to all the people who have lost their lives in the country due to the pandemic.
Reverend Dwight Lee Walter says he decided to ring the church bell to turn helplessness into healing.
“These are not just numbers, they are Americans with families,” Walter said.
Wanting to honor his memory, he decided to record the ringing of the bell and ring it as a memorial.
“I think it’s wonderful to honor them, absolutely,” one resident told our sister network NBC 4. “They shouldn’t be forgotten.”
But not everyone wants that reminder. Some argue that the constant ringing would annoy people, leaving comments on the pastor’s Facebook page calling the move “inconsiderate” and “rude.”
Patchogue Village is monitoring the sound of the bell, but the pastor says the volume can be controlled.
“There is a volume control on the doorbell; but there is no volume control for abusive comments; they outnumber comments of support and compassion,” the church said on its Facebook page.
The final day of the tribute will be Sunday, November 1, known as All Saints’ Day, according to the church.
Meanwhile, the chimes will continue.
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