Cherokee Nation Holds Memorial Service For Tribal Citizens Lost To COVID-19

The Cherokee Nation held a memorial ceremony Thursday night for Cherokee citizens who died from COVID-19.

Tribal leaders spoke at the event and the ceremony featured prayer and music from the Cherokee National Youth Choir.

"In their names, let's live each day to the fullest. My fellow Cherokees, in their names, let's embrace this coming spring and let's find a way to embrace each other,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said.

The Cherokee Nation said 106 of its citizens died during the pandemic and 50 of those were speakers of the endangered Cherokee language.

Merle Dry was the first Oklahoman to die from COVID-19 and he was also a Cherokee citizen. Thursday night, a memorial was held to honor Oklahomans who lost their lives to the virus.

Related Story: ‘Yet We’re Still Standing’: Oklahomans Mark 1 Year Of State’s First COVID-19 Death