Do you know where I can get a statue of Typhoid Mary? Is there an obelisk dedicated to the Bubonic plague? It’s not well-known and is so rarely visited that I’m not able to think of anything like it.

Fairfax County, located just west of Washington, D.C., unveiled the latest concept of its “COVID Memorial” which honors those who have died from respiratory flu, as well as the medical professionals who treated them.

Why will your tax dollars be used to pay for it? A fantastic question. You can find the answer right next to directions to the Smallpox monument, if you are looking to see where the state or federal constitution says that the government is responsible to take your money to fund their political art projects.

Fairfax bureaucrats and politicians have expanded their original intention to honor COVID survivors to include “the importance of mental health.”

“The memorial began as a means to honor those who died during the pandemic. It has evolved into a broader view of a peaceful place for reflection and recognition for the importance of mental wellness for the general public, and for local government workers that respond to emergencies. According to the application.”

Fairfax County’s spokesperson said that “its purpose has evolved from honoring only those who lost their lives in the pandemic, to creating a peaceful place that recognizes those working to support the physical and mental health of our community.”

That’s a good thing.

As seen in the latest renderings of the county, this project entitled “Circles of Memory” will look like:

The exact amount that the county will spend for the giant virus wall is not known, but in the 2023 application period, local artists were asked to bid for the project. This included a “$200,000 artist fee”, which would cover “design, materials and fabrication, insurance, travel expenses, packing, shipping, artwork installation, maintenance plan, and any other costs associated with the project.”

The county will need to conduct a “review” of the project in order to make sure that it meets the zoning regulations and any modifications are compliant with the stormwater management objectives. This review, I am certain, won’t come cheap.

Fairfax County saw a 25 percent increase in crime against people and property from 2019 to 2023. This included a worrying rise in auto thefts.

It’s not that idiots who spend taxpayer money care.

FairfaxGOP originally wrote this and published it as Fairfax County Unveils COVID Memorial Design at High Taxpayer Costs