Don't forget to praise emergency workers who 'held down the fort'

Editor:

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I was glad to see the recognition given to the members of our local fire departments for traveling to Atlanta to help out the flood victims (editorial, Sept. 27, "Praise for traveling emergency workers").

Not often enough do volunteers receive the credit deserved when traveling to assist others after a disaster, but something that shouldn't be forgotten is a thanks to the ones that stay behind to "hold down the fort."

No one would be able to leave town to help others if there were not enough staying behind to continue to keep our local community safe.

I certainly don't want to take away from their well-deserved praise, as their lives and to some extent, their families' lives, are put on hold while they are gone.

But it wouldn't hurt to say a "thank you" to the ones who stayed behind to make the trip possible.

N. Shealy, Augusta