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JUDY WOODRUFF: The pandemic
continues to claim the lives of
hundreds of Americans every day.

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We want to again take a moment
to recognize just a few of them.

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Samantha Wissinger is was
a fighter. The Michigan
native never lost her
infectious laugh or

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uplifting spirit, even
as she battled stage
three breast cancer and
stage four brain cancer.

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She was always helping others,
whether that meant working as
a registered nurse or fostering

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kittens. Last year, Samantha
married the love of her life,
Markus. Wednesday would have

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been their first anniversary.
Samantha was 29 years old.

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Costell Akrie was so kind
and humble that people called
him Saint Costell. He served

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in the Air Force during the
Korean War, which led him to
meet Dianne. They were engaged

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after one month, and would have
celebrated 65 years of marriage
this year. Costell earned

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five college degrees while
working three jobs to support
his wife and two children.

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Active in his community in
Oakland, California, he helped
build a neighborhood playground

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and headed the Bay Area Urban
League's Bureau for Veterans
Affairs. Costell was 88.

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Jeff Baumbach knew how
to brighten anyone's
day. That joyful spirit
propelled his career

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as an intensive care nurse
and his volunteer work for the
Boy Scouts of America in Lodi,

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California. Jeff met his wife,
Karen, in high school. Together,
they raised four children

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and planned countless family
vacations, from Caribbean
cruises to Disneyland. He was 57

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years old.

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Eric Gore was quiet and
reserved, but fiercely
loyal to his family and
community. Following

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in his father's footsteps,
Eric spent decades in the
civil service, including
as a Philadelphia

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firefighter. When he wasn't
working, his daughter
Logan was always by his
side. Together, they

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learned Spanish and Mandarin.
Eric was 48 years old.

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Anita Wynalda of Washington
state stood at just 4 feet, 9
inches, but her daughter says

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she had a huge personality.
Boisterous and loving, Anita,
or Anna, worked around the

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clock to provide for her family,
including her 13 grandchildren.

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Anna's generosity came through
in her work as a registered
nurse and overnight cashier

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at Walmart, where she
knew many of her customers
by name. Anna was 66.

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And our hearts go out to the
families of all who have lost
loved ones in this pandemic.