• Menu
  • Menu
  • News
  • Subscribe now
    Digital subscription Print subscription
  • Logout
Digital subscription
Print subscription
Trending
UAE holidays 2021 Coronavirus Expo 2020 Find Jobs in the UAE IPL 2021
  • Latest News
  • UAE
    • Crime
    • Education
      • Young Editors
    • Environment
    • Government
    • Health
      • Better Health
      • Why Worry
    • Transport
    • Science
    • Ramadan
    • Weather
    • Reader Complaint
    • Ask the Law
    • Games
    • UAE's Hope Probe
  • Living In UAE
    • Visa+Immigration
    • Housing
    • Phone+Internet
    • Banking
    • Transport
    • Health
    • Education
    • Relocate
    • Ask Us
    • Safety+Security
  • UAE Success Stories
  • Special Reports
  • Gulf
  • Business
    • Banking
    • Aviation
    • Property
    • Energy
    • Analysis
    • Tourism
    • Markets
    • Retail
    • Company Releases
    • Games
  • Your Money
    • Saving and Investment
    • Budget Living
    • Taxation
    • Expert Columns
    • Community Tips
  • Food
    • Cooking and Cuisines
    • Guide to Cooking
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Weekend Crossword
    • Sudoku
    • Word Search
  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy & Baby
    • Learning & Play
    • Child Health
    • For Mums & Dads
    • Ask Us
    • Games
  • World
    • Gulf
      • Bahrain
      • Kuwait
      • Oman
      • Qatar
      • Saudi
      • Yemen
      • Games
    • Mena
    • Europe
      • Brexit
    • Africa
    • Americas
      • US Presidential Elections 2020
    • Asia
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • Philippines
    • Oceania
    • Offbeat
    • Court and Crime
    • Coronavirus
    • Infographics
    • Games
  • DUNS100
  • Photos
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Eds
    • Letters
    • Off the Cuff
    • Cartoons
    • From the Editors
  • Sport
    • UAE Sport
    • Horse Racing
      • Dubai World Cup
    • Cricket
      • IPL
        • Chennai
        • Delhi
        • Punjab
        • Kolkata
        • Mumbai
        • Rajasthan
        • Bangalore
        • Hyderabad
        • Schedule
        • Live Scores
        • Point Table
        • Top Scorers
      • ICC
    • Football
    • Motorsport
    • Tennis
      • Dubai Duty Free Tennis 2020
    • Golf
    • Rugby
  • Entertainment
    • Hollywood
    • Bollywood
    • Pakistani Cinema
    • Pinoy Celebs
    • South Indian
    • Arab Celebs
    • Music
    • TV
    • Books
    • Theatre
    • Arts+Culture
  • Expo 2020
    • News
    • Photos
    • Pavilions
    • Visit the Expo
    • Experience the UAE
    • Entertainment
    • Videos
  • Going Out
    • Movie Reviews
    • Society
  • Auto
    • News
    • Test Drives
    • Car Culture
    • Auto Care
  • Lifestyle
    • Health+Fitness
      • Beating Breast Cancer
    • Family
    • Community
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • #Pinoy
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Weekend Review
  • GN Reach
  • Jobs
  • Tech
    • Electronics
      • Gitex Shopper
    • Gaming
    • Trends
    • Fin-Tech
    • Media
  • How To
    • Employment
      • Jobs
    • Passports & Visas
    • Your Money
    • Legal
  • Videos
    • How-To
    • Best Of Bollywood
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Business
    • Sport
    • #Pinoy
    • Community
    • Travel
    • Technology
  • GN Focus
  • Bayat Chapters
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Hotels
  • Gold-Forex
  • Notifications
  • Gold/Forex
  • Prayer Times
  • Cinema Listing
  • About Gulf News
  • Contact us
  • Work with us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Gulf News store
  • Advertise with us
  • Reach by GN
  • GN Focus
  • Gulf News epaper
  • Sitemap
  • Have your say
  • © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2021. All rights reserved.
    Photos: In Florida yard, a ribbon flutters for every COVID-19 death

    Photos

    Login / Sign Up
    Logout
    Wednesday, April 21, 2021
    Gold / Forex

    Photos News

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
    All Sections

    Photos: In Florida yard, a ribbon flutters for every COVID-19 death

    30,000 ribbons an eye-catching tribute to those who have died in the Sunshine State


    Published:  March 06, 2021 17:04 AFP

    1 of 12
    Florida ribbons gallery
    Anna Maria Island: When Cathy Tobias began tying a ribbon to a rope for each COVID-19 death in Florida, she had no idea her entire patio would end up being draped in color. The eye-catching tribute to those who have died in the Sunshine State during the pandemic crisscrosses her patio, weaves across stairs and onto a balcony at her home on Anna Maria Island, a small community on Florida's Gulf coast. Image Credit: AFP
    2 of 12
    Florida ribbons gallery
    There are now more than 30,000 ribbons, in all colors of the rainbow - from pale pink to crimson to neon green. Sitting on a porch with a neighbor who has helped her create the memorial, Tobias said she began to tie the ribbons because she wanted to visualize the death toll. Image Credit: AFP
    3 of 12
    Florida ribbons gallery
    "Watching the numbers change as fast as we can tie really hits us very deeply and strongly - how many people have died and are dying," the 67-year-old retired occupational therapist said. "It's very sad." Image Credit: AFP
    4 of 12
    Florida ribbons gallery
    Tobias' home is at the end of the main road on Anna Maria Island, a tourist-friendly town on a narrow strip of land with visitors driving around in rented golf carts and plenty of stores stocked with beach gear. She says her tribute of course conjures up mixed emotions. Image Credit: AFP
    5 of 12
    Florida ribbons gallery
    "It is in some ways celebratory because we're celebrating life - of course, lives lost," said Tobias, who now works as a photographer. "Each one of these people have family, loved ones, friends that are all deeply impacted and I didn't want them to get lost in this pandemic." She said she knows "what it feels like, unfortunately, to lose a loved one," because her first child died at less than a month old. Image Credit: AFP
    6 of 12
    Florida ribbons gallery
    Tying ribbons might not seem too complicated, but as the pandemic swept the world and Florida along with it, Tobias and her neighbor Lucy Kancy, devised an organizational system to keep track of all the dead. For every 10 deaths, they tie a white ribbon. After that, for every 500, 1,000 and 10,000 deaths, they acknowledge the grim milestone using markers. Image Credit: AFP
    7 of 12
    Florida ribbons gallery
    "It takes forever - it's a labor of love," said Kancy, 69. "To cut these the right size, it takes hours. And then, before you know it, it's time to do it again." Last month, Tobias displayed the fluttering streamers for the first time on one of the island's public beaches, with the help of her sister and several friends. Image Credit: AFP
    8 of 12
    Florida ribbons gallery
    Arranged in one long line, the ribbons spread out more than 750 feet. Tobias brought markers so visitors could write the names of their dead loved ones on the ribbons, hoping those left behind could get a bit of catharsis, particularly those who could not attend a funeral to say goodbye. Image Credit: AFP
    9 of 12
    Florida ribbons gallery
    "A lot of these people, we know, died alone and families weren't given the opportunity to grieve properly or even have proper funerals," Tobias said. All are welcome to participate, even if their loved one did not die of Covid in Florida. So far, about 40 names have been inscribed. Tobias now wonders what to do with her creation, which is back at her home. Image Credit: AFP
    10 of 12
    Florida ribbons gallery
    In the short term, it will be exhibited this month at an arts center in nearby St. Petersburg. She also dreams of seeing a Covid ribbon memorial for every US state, to pay tribute to the more than 500,000 people who have died in the country, which is the hardest-hit in the world. Image Credit: AFP
    11 of 12
    Florida ribbons gallery
    For now, Tobias is focused on Florida's losses. "I just keep going. I'm just trying to keep up," she says. Image Credit: AFP
    12 of 12
    Florida ribbons gallery
    A newspaper reports on Cathy Tobias' ribbon memorial for Covid-19 victims, in Anna Maria Island, Florida. Image Credit: AFP

    Trending

    • Indian expats in UAE board first flights to home

      Indian expats in UAE board first flights to home


    • Look: A stunning new mangrove forest in Dubai

      Look: A stunning new mangrove forest in Dubai


    • Ramadan cannons in the UAE, a resounding tradition

      Ramadan cannons in the UAE, a resounding tradition


    • Bollywood battles: Priyanka Chopra vs Kareena Kapoor

      Bollywood battles: Priyanka Chopra vs Kareena Kapoor

    Latest In

    • Wajid Khan’s wife in a property dispute with in-laws

      10 minutes ago

    • Pandemic pushed ‘more parental engagment in schooling’

      15 minutes ago

    • ENOC subsidiary lays out four pipelines in Saudi Arabia

      20 minutes ago

    • Japan PM cancels trip to India, Philippines

      37 minutes ago

    • Sharjah’s Ramadan Nights shopping fest starts Thursday

      40 minutes ago

    Go back to top
    Network links:
    • Baby & Child
    • Friday
    • Inside Out
    • Watch Time
    • Wheels
    • getthat
    • GN Tech
    • Jobs
    • About Gulf News
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Gulf News store
    • Advertise with us
    • Reach by GN
    • GN Focus
    • Gulf News epaper
    • Sitemap
    • Have your say
    Find us on Social
    © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2021. All rights reserved.
    This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.
    Share on Facebook
    Share on Twitter
    Share on Whatsapp
    Share on Mail
    Share on LinkedIn
    Close
    Gulf News

    Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

    We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

    Subscribe No Thanks
    Continue reading Gulf News
    Dear Reader, please register to read gulfnews.com

    Dear Reader,

    This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you cannot live without.

    Register to read and get full access to gulfnews.com

    Create your account
    or login if you already have one
    First name is required.
    Last name is required.
    Please enter a valid email address.
    Password should have minimum 7 characters with at least one letter and number
    Passwords do not match

    By clicking below to sign up, you're agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

    Login your account
    New to Gulf News? Sign up now
    Please enter your email address.
    Please enter your password.

    Forgot password

    or