PHOTOS: 660,000 white flags on National Mall honor nation’s COVID victims

According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 660,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

An art installation that illustrates the growing death toll has been taking shape this week on the National Mall, near the Washington Memorial.

“In America: Remember” by D.C.-based artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg comprises 660,000 small white flags. It follows a similar installation of 240,000 flags that went up last October near RFK Stadium.

Visitors to the installation can personalize one of the small white flags in honor of a lost loved one. Those who can’t make it to the mall can submit their message via a web form on the installation’s website. That message will then be handwritten on a flag by a volunteer.

The installation opens to the public on Friday. An 11 a.m. opening ceremony will feature the artist, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch and CNN’s Dana Bash.

“In America: Remember” will be on display through Oct. 3. It’s open from 10 a.m. to sunset on weekdays and 9 a.m. to sunset on weekends.

You can see the installation take shape in the photo gallery below.

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White flags stand near the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. The flags, which will number more than 630,000 when completed, are part of artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg's temporary art installation, "In America: Remember," in remembrance of Americans who have died of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

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Workers prepare to plant white flags as part of artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg's temporary art installation, "In America: Remember," in remembrance of Americans who have died of COVID-19, on the National Mall in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. The installation will consist of more than 630,000 flags when completed. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

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White flags wait to be planted as part of artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg's temporary art installation, "In America: Remember," in remembrance of Americans who have died of COVID-19, on the National Mall in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. The installation will consist of more than 630,000 flags when completed. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

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Workers plant white flags as part of artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg's temporary art installation, "In America: Remember," in remembrance of Americans who have died of COVID-19, on the National Mall in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. The installation will consist of more than 630,000 flags when completed. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

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Workers plant white flags as part of artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg's temporary art installation, "In America: Remember," in remembrance of Americans who have died of COVID-19, on the National Mall in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. The installation will consist of more than 630,000 flags when completed. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

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Sunlight shines on white flags that are part of artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg's temporary art installation, "In America: Remember," in remembrance of Americans who have died of COVID-19, on the National Mall in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. The installation will consist of more than 630,000 flags when completed. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

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A worker plants white flags as part of artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg's temporary art installation, "In America: Remember," in remembrance of Americans who have died of COVID-19, on the National Mall in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. The installation will consist of more than 630,000 flags when completed. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

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Workers plant white flags as part of artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg's temporary art installation, "In America: Remember," in remembrance of Americans who have died of COVID-19, on the National Mall in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. The installation will consist of more than 630,000 flags when completed. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)