A Flag For Every Coronavirus Death: One Fairfield Woman's Tribute

FAIRFIELD, CT — Last week, Meg Murray planted more than 1,400 flags along the driveway of her Stratfield home: One for each Fairfield County resident who has died of the coronavirus.

“Planting those flags was very sobering,” Murray said.

She was inspired to create the display of red, white and blue boundary flags after she learned about a similar project by Austin-based artist Shane Reilly, who has planted over 15,000 flags in memory of every Texan killed by the virus. Most Connecticut residents have incorporated face masks, social distancing and other challenges of navigating the pandemic into their daily life, but Murray hopes her display will remind those who pass her Southwood Road home not to forget the virus's victims.

“I realized that I needed to think about the victims that have died and their families and the losses that they’re carrying now for the rest of their lives,” Murray said.

Since she planted the flags, Murray has been adding to the display to reflect additional deaths. The flags are grouped into three categories and marked with signs: one for Fairfield fatalities, one for Bridgeport deaths, and one for the remaining fatality count in Fairfield County. A friend of Murray’s planned a similar setup for Shelton virus deaths in memory of her father-in-law.

“It’s a very stark image and I’m hoping people will stop and say a prayer, maybe, for the families,” Murray said of her display.

Murray uses state data to track virus fatalities in Fairfield County. As of Thursday, the county had 1,423 confirmed and probable virus deaths since March, according to the state. Of those, 145 were Fairfield residents and 155 lived in Bridgeport.

Murray said her display is not meant to be political, but rather is intended to honor the memory of the victims.

“It’s heartbreaking,” she said.