There’s no doubt that Butler County residents want to move on as quickly as possible from the COVID-19 pandemic, which is on the decline again and, hopefully, won’t return for another wave.

But one county resident doesn’t want us all to move on and forget — and she’s right.

Kathleen Davis, a church elder at Hill Presbyterian Church, created a COVID-19 memorial in conjunction with the All Saints’ remembrance service at the church on Sunday.

The memorial consists of 503 flags covering a hillside in the church’s yard that represent each Butler County resident who — at the time the memorial was set up — had died from the pandemic.

County residents recently held fantastic vigils to show support for nurses and other medical staff who have faced the daunting task of caring for COVID-19 patients during the past year and a half.

We’re glad those events were held for the brave health care workers who have been on the front line of the pandemic, and we think Davis’ idea to memorialize those we have lost is also a great idea.

Six of the flags in the display represent friends of Davis — including two members of her church’s congregation — who lost their lives to the pandemic.

“These people need to be remembered,” Davis said. We agree, and hope the memorial will let those who have lost loved ones in the county know that they are not alone in their grief.

There have been numerous false starts and stops, but COVID-19 is hopefully fading for a final time.

For reasons personal and economic, it’s safe to say it’s been hard on most people in the county.

It can’t be said enough that we should thank the doctors, nurses and other medical staff at Butler Memorial Hospital and other health care providers for their work during the pandemic.

And everyone who has done their part by getting vaccinated or masking and social distancing when asked to do so also deserve praise. Everyone from the average citizen who acted with his neighbor in mind to the local business or school district that took the extra step in exercising caution played a role in preventing COVID-19 numbers from being worse locally.

As the names of those who have died during the past year are read at the All Saints’ remembrance service, we hope Davis’ memorial helps to emphasize to the families of the deceased that their loved ones won’t be forgotten.

— NCD