On Tuesday, Jan. 19, on the eve of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, the nation paused to remember the 400,000 American lives that have been lost during the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Washington, D.C., President-elect Biden with his wife, Jill Biden, and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, gathered at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool as 400 lights were illuminated, each one representing 1,000 deaths.

“It’s hard sometimes to remember, but that’s how we heal. It’s important to do that as a nation,” said President-elect Biden in brief remarks during the somber ceremony.

Vice President-elect Harris added, “For many months, we have grieved by ourselves. Tonight we grieve and begin healing together.”

Across the nation, hundreds of towns, cities and communities, including Montgomery County Community College, joined in the tribute by shining their lights. MCCC illuminated its campus buildings in Pottstown, Blue Bell and Lansdale. At 5:30 p.m., the bells chimed from MCCC’s bell tower in Blue Bell, sounding across the campus and beyond. In addition, speakers were set up outside the Health Sciences Center, where the COVID-19 vaccine clinic is held, to broadcast electronic bells.

Throughout the pandemic, MCCC has helped our communities by serving as a COVID-19 testing site and currently as vaccine clinic, hosting American Red Cross Blood drives, donating food and PPE, serving as polling places and ballot drop-off locations during the election and offering tuition assistance to residents who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic. MCCC continues to support its students with scholarships, technology assistance, 24/7 online tutoring, and online therapy, among other supportive programs and services.