A new bill introduced in the state Legislature by local representatives would designate the first Monday of March as COVID-19 Remembrance Day.
State Reps. Natalie Blais, D-Sunderland, and Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, introduced Bill HD.4454 Wednesday to memorialize the more than 17,850 Massachusetts residents who have died from the virus and more than 711,400 residents afflicted by it thus far. Across the country, more than 40 million cases have been detected and more than 642,000 people have lost their lives since the novel coronavirus first spread to the U.S.
Blais said the bill is “one very small thing” the Legislature can do to give people a chance to “remember and reflect on lessons learned.”
“This has been a really difficult time for people, not only in Massachusetts, but across the country,” Blais said in phone interview. “I think it’s important to remember and to heal.”
Domb said memorializing those who have lost loved ones can bring perspective to such a tragic time.
“A remembrance day offers all of us, as a commonwealth, a way to acknowledge the immense personal and collective loss,” Domb said in a prepared statement.
“A designated day also gives us a chance to acknowledge the many who have survived COVID-19 and those who still struggle with the effects of the virus, while recognizing those health care providers and essential workers who sacrificed so much and delivered critical services to our communities.”
The bill is based on national legislation put forward in the U.S. Senate in August by Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Edward Markey, D-Mass, and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.
Blais said she and Domb brought it to the state Legislature as part of a push for a national day of remembrance, but Massachusetts’ bill has “differences” to recognize those who have been fighting the virus.
“We took that approach in order to help them make the case for a national day,” Blais said. “We also felt it was important to recognize the efforts of volunteers and essential workers in communities across the commonwealth.”
National advocacy organizations including Marked by COVID and Massachusetts-based Faces of COVID have pushed for a countrywide day of remembrance and have voiced support for the state’s bill. Blais said she is “incredibly grateful” to have the support of these organizations and they are “building off their efforts.”
Kristin Urquiza, co-founder and co-executive director of Marked by COVID, said holding days of remembrance offer people a chance to reflect on the tragedies of the pandemic.
“To heal, we must remember,” Urquiza said in a prepared statement. “Creating spaces and forums for mourning and remembrance will also impart to future generations the unvarnished truth about what happened and why, so we learn from this disaster and never make the same mistakes again.”
Blais said bringing the bill forward is the first step in designating the remembrance day.
“Introducing legislation is the start of a conversation,” Blais said. “I hope people will be responsive.”
To view the bill in its entirety, visit malegislature.gov/Bills/192/HD4454.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.