They came to remember mother and fathers, brothers and sisters. They showed up for aunts, uncles and cousins. They represented for longtime friends.
Tony Silva, Jr. of Riverside remembers his aunt/uncle Sally and Robert Aguilar, pictured from left, who died on the same day, and his uncle David Silva during a COVID-19 remembrance march honoring loved ones who died of the virus at Ryan Bonaminio Park in Riverside on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. All died in 2020 and were Riverside residents. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The family of Santos Pablo Villalobos, 66, in picture, from left, great niece Jaylene Ornelas of Rancho Cucamonga, wife Conrada of Riverside and Emma Rose Ornelas, (Jaylene’s sister) react when remembering his last days after contracting COVID-19 during a remembrance march honoring those who died of the virus at Ryan Bonaminio Park in Riverside on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. He had eight children and 15 grandchildren. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Riverside residents and Tony Silva, Sr. third from left, spoke about his loved ones being intubated or put on a ventilator in their losing battle against COVID-19 at Ryan Bonaminio Park in Riverside on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. “I wanted to be there to say goodbye and touch my brother, sister and her husband,” Silva says. All died from COVID-19 in 2020. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Riverside residents, from left, Tony Silva, Jr., Lisa Alfaro and Tony Silva, Sr. take a picture before marching a mile honoring loved ones who died due to COVID-19 at Ryan Bonaminio Park in Riverside on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A couple hundred families gather, march a mile and gave speeches about their loved one who died after contracting COVID-19 at Ryan Bonaminio Park in Riverside on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A couple hundred families gather, march a mile and gave speeches about their loved one who died after contracting COVID-19 at Ryan Bonaminio Park in Riverside on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Emilia Guerra, 1, of Riverside, her mom and family march for her dad Rigo, 33, who died from COVID-19 last year at a march honoring those who died due to the virus at Ryan Bonaminio Park in Riverside on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
“He showed us what family is,” Riverside resident Jason Villalobos, center, says of his dad Santos Pablo Villalobos, 66, during a march honoring those who died from COVID-19 at Ryan Bonaminio Park in Riverside on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. His dad died from COVID-19 in the same hospital where his son worked in food services. Jason quit his job because the memory of his father’s death occurring one floor above the kitchen was too overwhelmingly sad. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Santos Pablo Villalobos, 66, of Riverside, pictured, held by his wife Conrada is remembered during a march honoring those who died from COVID-19 at Ryan Bonaminio Park in Riverside on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. He went to every graduation, birthday, game of his eight children, 15 grandchildren and other family members, according to son Jason Villalobos. The patriarch would take the bus to support his family. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Riverside residents Lisa Alfaro, third from left, Jackie Araiza Reyes and Serena Romo bow their heads in prayer remembering loved ones who died from COVID-19 before marching a mile at Ryan Bonaminio Park in Riverside on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. Alfaro lost her husband, Reyes lost her cousin and best friends while Romo lost her dad. The cousins Alfaro and Romo helped organize the event. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
All died of COVID-19. And all were in the thoughts of those who gathered Saturday, Aug. 7, at a Riverside Park for a memorial walk.
The event coincided with national COVID March to Remember events. Riverside cousins Serena Romo and Lisa Alfaro — who each lost close loved ones to the coronavirus — organized the event at Ryan Bonaminio Park.
Attendees at the free walk were encouraged to wear yellow and asked to wear masks.