LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Ten cities in the Los Angeles region are taking part in a unified COVID-19 Memorial effort Saturday to recognize the lives lost due to the pandemic.

"As the year anniversary of this pandemic and the shut down of all of our cities arrives this weekend, 10 cities in the southeast Los Angeles area have united," Lynwood Mayor Marisela Santana said, noting that the effort will be held simultaneously Saturday, ending with a moment of silence at the exact same time.

The memorial is an effort spearheaded by the city of Lynwood, Santana said.

The program in Lynwood begins at 5:25 p.m. with a performance of Ave Maria by local artist Angel Ng. The half-hour program will include a prayer, a second song by Angel Ng, "Amor Eterno" and a moment of silence at 6 p.m. The Fire Department also will raise a giant American Flag on the front lawn of City Hall.

Every city participating will light candles or lanterns at their own city halls, Santana said.

The participating cities are: Bell, Bell Gardens, Commerce, Cudahy, Hawaiian Gardens, Huntington Park, Lynwood, Montebello, Paramount and South Gate.

"Together, we have been advocating tirelessly to make the vaccine accessible to our residents over the last month-and-a-half," Santana said. "Honoring all of the residents from our communities we've lost to this pandemic together with a united memorial like this is an example of our resilience and collective unity."