20022

APRIL

May 2022

Fast forward. The timeline ends.

As flags flew at half-staff in front of the Marin County Civic Center and other federal buildings across the U.S. following President Joe Biden’s order, the nation commemorated the one-millionth death in America due to COVID-19.

On May 12, 2022, at the second global pandemic summit, President Biden spoke solemnly of the once unthinkable death toll in the U.S. and said,

“Today, we mark a tragic milestone here in the United States: one million COVID deaths, one million empty chairs around the family dinner table — each irreplaceable. Irreplaceable losses, each leaving behind a family, a community forever changed because of this pandemic.

March 2020

APRIL 2022

And here we are.

After more than two and a half years of advances in science, human rights, and public health investment, we have achieved remarkable success against the COVID-19 pandemic. Progress on this scale is only possible when countries and communities work together towards a common goal. Although the virus may never be defeated, the advances that have been made will only be sustained by avoiding the threat of an apathetic approach by our national and local leaders and by remedying deep-seated inequalities that affect the most vulnerable of those in our midst. The president concluded his comments by saying,

“So, thank you for responding to this fight. And most especially, thank you to all the doctors, nurses, community health workers, scientists, aid workers, and anyone and everyone on the frontlines fighting this pandemic, saving lives every single day.

We owe you.” meaning may have changed throughout time, but during the COVID-19 pandemic , held close to the following definition and were easy to identify.

Marin’s h eroes

A real-life ever yday h ero coura ge. and

A h ero’s sel flessn ess, braver y, compassion, is much like a literar y hero: a person who puts oneself before others for a good cause. They typically exhibit characteristics of