Herndon Town Councilmember Cesar del Aguila installed the sign at no cost on the Town Square based on Fairfax County’s and Commonwealth of Virginia’s recommendations to stop the spread of COVID-19. “Protect Lives in Our Town.” Photo by Mercia Hobson.
By early evening, Monday, April 6, 2020, the United States reached COVID-19 milestones: 10,000 deaths, 360,000 confirmed cases and the peak not yet reached.
That morning, in the Town of Herndon, population 24,545, Councilmember Cesar del Aguila relays to Town Manager Bill Ashton, it's time to fight COVID-19.
Fairfax County Emergency Information and Governor Northam have been recommending: Wash Up, Socially Distance and Mask Up. Come on folks, get with it.
The plan is a grassroots effort: make a signboard and post it in front of the Old Town Hall on the main thoroughfare through the town, Elden Street, Herndon.
Local business, Signarama Herndon/Chantilly Yesco Northern Virginia at 316 Victory Drive, donates design time and materials to produce a 66-inch by 46-inch Coroplast signboard, big thanks to Chelsey Bashorun, Owner/Office Manager. Bashorun says, "This is important."
The plan is to install the sign on the vacant tri-board located on Town Square in front of the Old Town Hall. Constructed to announce town events, it's been empty for weeks. With local hands working together toward one common goal, they get the signboard up immediately, and urge people to protect others and themselves. Councilmember del Aguila picks up and delivers the sign to the Town Square. Masked and gloved, del Aguila installs it at the intersection of Elden Street and the W&OD Trail, ironically in front of the local funeral home.
Former Town Councilmember Richard Downer presented the idea for the tri-sided marque decades ago. Downer said that he never, ever thought his idea for the tri-board would be used for this, during a pandemic and a plea for citizens to abide by Fairfax County's and Virginia Governor Northam's recommendations.
Downer, del Aguila and others agree that all parties in the effort to produce the sign, and the whole town, will toast with champagne and fruit juice the day the signboard comes down and COVID-19 no longer threatens their little town, the county, the state, the union and the globe.
Stay home, wash up, social distance, and mask up. Here's to tomorrow…Let's make it happen.