Colin Hanks plays Fred Rogers in this episode. His father, Tom Hanks would later go onto play Fred Rogers in the movie: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019).
Kimiko Glenn, who plays Maya Lin, was also in Orange is the new Black. In Season 5 Episode 7 "Full Bush Half Snickers" Kimiko Glenn's Character, Brooke Soso, references Maya Lin and this story directly when pitching ideas for a memorial that inspires others.