Here is a reminder of what we can never forget. Behind each death from COVID-19 is a family. When the numbers become this large, 88,000 Americans and counting, it’s easy to become numb to the numbers, not only of the victims, but all those left behind – the wives, husbands, children and friends, and the communities so many of them served.

This is the story of Charles Roberts, a policeman in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.

Roberts was a 20-year veteran of the local police force. He contracted coronavirus three weeks ago and the town rallied around him, prayed for him, and gathered food for the doctors and nurses who cared for him. But Roberts, 45, died from complications of the disease earlier this week.

State lockdown orders prohibited a central gathering spot to pay tribute, so hundreds of residents waited on their street corners and sidewalks to say “thank you” as his funeral procession passed by. The New York Times writes:

“They placed their hands over their hearts as the hearse carrying his body made its way to the cemetery. Many wore blue and orange, the colors of the New York Mets, Mr. Roberts’s favorite baseball team, and saluted as the hearse drove by, escorted by dozens of police cars and motorcycles from nearby towns and cities.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in this town or anything close to it,” said Stuart Patrick, the mayor of Glen Ridge.

“It was an overwhelming display of solidarity with a family many Glen Ridge residents knew personally. Officer Roberts’s wife, Alice Baker-Roberts, has taught children in the town’s school district since 1997, and Mr. Roberts, 45, was an officer in the schools’ drug education program who mentored students and who seemed to know just about every resident by name.“

At his memorial service, which was held outside the local municipal building, his youngest son, 10-year-old Gavin, wore his father’s police hat. Roberts becomes the 12th New Jersey officer to die from coronavirus.

NB: In a time when the leadership of this country spends an inordinate amount of time trying to divide us, it is comforting to see a community come together, to rally around one of their own. The true spirit of America was on display in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. We are sorry for your loss. – News & Guts