As you read this, you may be relaxing with your family in preparation for one of the most cherished of holidays, Christmas. But you may be glancing at the paper as you prepare to start your shift as a law enforcement officer, or during a break at the hospital or lunch at the firehouse.
If so, thank you, on behalf of the good people of northwestern Ohio. We realize our holiday - every day, for that matter - goes smoothly only because thousands of our neighbors are doing jobs from which there can be no real breaks.
Health care professionals, law enforcement officers, firefighters, workers who ensure utilities such as electricity and water keep flowing, the gasoline station employees who ensure we have fuel to get to grandma's house and the retailers who sell goods that may be needed today are among those on whom we rely.
And in some workplaces, those who consider Christmas especially important are helped by co-workers, sometimes of other faiths, who pitch in so we can have the day off.
To those who work tonight, tomorrow and on other holidays because someone has to do it, our thanks.
And, once your shift is finished, merry Christmas!
