TRAVELS FAR, a memorial launched by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Arts & Design to honor the 136 MTA employees lost to COVID-19, has expanded to Grand Central Terminal, Moynihan Train Hall and One Vanderbilt Transit Hall.
"COVID-19 has been a devastating scourge on our entire country and, tragically, that includes the MTA's workforce," said MTA Chairman and CEO Patrick J. Foye. "We quickly made sure that those families who lost an MTA worker to COVID were taken care of financially, but the launch of this memorial is aimed at personalizing the legacies of those who died during the pandemic. It is a moving tribute to the members of our heroic workforce who lost their lives and we will continue to make sure those who perished are not forgotten."
The appearance of the memorial on the large informational ‘Big Boards’ at Grand Central Terminal, synchronized to the Terminal’s P.A. system, is a historic first. This was orchestrated to appear simultaneously with the memorial being shown at 107 subway stations, the massive new digital screens adorning Moynihan Train Hall and on screens in the Transit Hall of One Vanderbilt. The images, set to a backdrop of the MTA family of colors, are accompanied by “TRAVELS FAR,” a poem by Tracy K. Smith, the former U.S. Poet Laureate who was commissioned for this project. The memorial appears three times per day, at 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
“This memorial is an important opportunity for all New Yorkers to take a moment to pay their respects and honor member of our heroic NYC Transit family,” said New York City Transit Interim President Sarah Feinberg. “Expanding the number of places where people can view the memorial – particularly to historic, beautiful landmarks like Grand Central Terminal and Moynihan Train Hall, mean even more New Yorkers can participate.”
The memorial debuted on Jan. 25, appearing as an eight-minute video running on 138 three-panel digital screens at 107 subway stations. The “TRAVELS FAR” memorial is accompanied by an original score of the same name by composer Christopher Thompson and will run daily through Feb. 7.
“The loss of these MTA heroes to COVID-19 is a profound tragedy,” said Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi. “Expanding this beautiful tribute to historic Grand Central Terminal is one more way to honor the lives of those that we have lost.”
“We will never forget those we lost to this tragic pandemic and honoring them is just one small way we can heal,” said LIRR President Phil Eng. “I’m so proud to have worked with them and being able to utilize the magnificent new Moynihan Train Hall to honor our MTA family is a perfect symbol of their heroic efforts.”
