Prepare. Prevent. Protect.

This Thanksgiving I’d like to take a moment to thank the men and women in uniform who voluntarily step up to protect us here and abroad. All of the men and women I know that serve as police, fire, EMS and military are glad to do their job and see it as an honor and a duty to protect and serve us all.

We often see the best and worst moments of their often thankless jobs splayed across the media airwaves, but what we don’t see are those moments when they change the lives of many on a daily basis.

What we don’t celebrate daily are the crimes that don’t get committed due to the dedicated men and women who patrol our streets. We sleep easier because patrolmen and women are up all night. Remember this the next time you or someone you know gets pulled over.

What we don’t celebrate daily are the fires that don’t turn into deadly infernos destroying lives and property. We rest easier because the firefighters are ready to mobilize day and night. Remember this the next time you’re waving a dishcloth under your smoke detector.

What we don’t celebrate daily are the lives that are saved by our highly trained EMS squads. We rest easier knowing these men and women are there for us and our loved ones. Remember this the next time you’re pulling over to let an ambulance go by.

What we don’t celebrate daily are the men and women abroad who sacrifice time with their families to help save the lives of other families in a foreign land and culture. We rest easier knowing these brave men and women keep terror at bay so we may have peace on our piece of Earth. Remember this the next time you see a service member.

Although there are times in our jobs where a person’s attitude or behavior may rub us the wrong way, typically we are not responsible for their safety. When a cop, fireman, paramedic or soldier encounters difficult people, their job is to keep even the most ornery of us safe from ourselves and others, and yet still maintain their own personal safety. That’s a lot of responsibility that we don’t get to see on the 6 o’clock news.

So if you know someone who serves in this capacity, thank them this holiday season and while you’re at it, thank everyone else around you, because chances are they’ve all had some input on who you are today.

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