By Michael Swanger
Since early March, when the worldwide coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began forcing Iowa businesses to shutter and its residents to distance themselves from their neighbors, I have been reminded of the adage “we are stronger together” among other expressions of hope and solidarity during this challenging time in our state’s history.
Over the years, Iowans have endured pandemics and epidemics including the 1918 Spanish flu, which killed more than 7,500 Iowans and 702 soldiers at Camp Dodge, as well as the 1957 Asian flu, the 1968 Hong Kong flu and the 2009 H1N1 swine flu, which affected a smaller number of Iowans. Ask any Iowan who is old enough to remember what life was like during the 1930s and 1940s and they will tell you about the scourge of contagious diseases such as the mumps, measles and chicken pox.
Like previous generations of Iowans, we will persevere if we band together and exercise a little common sense, discipline and thoughtfulness. If you are lonely or scared, help someone else, especially those who have been hit the hardest by COVID-19 medically or financially. You will feel better.
Now and in the months ahead, it is important to support Iowa-based businesses as they are vital to our state’s economy and the fabric of our communities. In addition to those deemed “essential,” that includes museums, historical societies and historical attractions, districts and events, as well as other businesses and nonprofits who support the preservation of Iowa’s history for future generations.
I also encourage you to support our advertisers, some of which have remained open during this crisis, some of which have been temporarily closed. Visit their websites for updates about their status, products and events. They, in turn, support the big work of our small business which is also affected by the pandemic.
“We are stronger together” rings true during this pandemic. What’s more, don’t forget it when we beat COVID-19. Before you proceed to checkout online or fill your shopping cart with a national website or company, spend some of your hard-earned money with an Iowa-based business. Remember, “we are stronger together.”