COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day

Beginning in 2024, every March 4 in Texas will be observed as “COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day.” This day establishes a uniform statewide date to honor and recognize the contributions and sacrifices of Texans who played crucial roles during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes healthcare professionals, first responders, essential workers, and others who worked tirelessly to support their communities during these challenging times. It is also a time to memorialize the almost 95,000 people in Texas who have lost their lives to COVID-19 since March 4, 2020 – the date the disease was first diagnosed in Texas.

Five years later, we reflect on all that has occurred and changed since March 4, 2020. We asked Cook Children’s employees to reflect on their experiences during the COVID-19 lockdown and how they experienced growth, loss, and change.