Who? – All the men and women that have decided to face those things that most of us run or turn away from.
The amazing people who dedicate their lives to saving and protecting ours.
ALL First Responders everywhere.
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What? – Thank them. Honor them and show them gratitude for being who they are and for doing what they have chosen to do.
In chapter 41 of The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, he says, “Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.”
A little acknowledgement goes quite a long way.
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Where? – Anywhere and everywhere. Depending on the method of delivery, communicating the Thank You can be done anywhere you run across these amazing people. In passing when you see them on their daily routines on the job or in life. The places they begin and end their day (or night) of work. Where they take their breaks. Signs or posters in your yards, on your cars, on street corners and sides of roads. Anywhere they might see you or you might see them.
Note: DO NOT interrupt them when they are doing their job.
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Why? – We want these people to know how glad we are that they are there. They have been taken for granted for far too long. Every time we run into trouble, we assume that all we need to do is call 911 and they will be there.
We want them to know how grateful we are that they ARE there.
Also, we want our kids to grow up without the disrespect and fear they have been taught and has been “fashionable” to show them. Sometimes a good example of respect, honor and gratitude needs to be set. Good examples plant the seed for more.
A trend needs to be started.
Why May 19th? – May 19th was chosen as a day that’s late into the school year and is not surrounded by many other holidays.
Many holidays or days of recognition are on days of birth. Days that were the beginning of someone or something. Possibly Thank You Day should be on a day that the first police department began or the day the first fire department formed.
Other Days of Thanks that are created for a state wide day of honor, can be days that have a special significance to that state.
The evolution of a very important day continues.
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When? – May 19th and EVERY DAY.
Appreciating these dedicated people should be a daily occurrence.
The daily habit starts on, and continues from May 19th.
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How? – The list is long. Ideas are spreading and will continue to grow. List of ideas:
• Deliver treats. Make sure they are packaged in a bakery or factory container. Home baked goods may seem more personal but, since we may be strangers to them, they won’t be comfortable with home baked goods.
• Buy a gift card at a local coffee shop and ask to leave it behind the counter to pay for the beverages or snacks that anyone in uniform that stops in for.
• Create Thank You cards, posters, banners, signs, etc. Deliver them to their places of work along with lots of smiles and thank you’s.
• Put Thank You signs up in your front yards, windows, on street corners, on cars, etc. Anywhere you think they might be seen. Signs in car windows need to be small! Don’t risk needing them on the day we are thanking them.
• Blue and red lights can light up your windows and homes so the thanks will last into the night.
• Hold big posters and banners on street corners and encourage everyone to honk and wave to say thanks!
• A smile and “Thank You” in passing will always be appreciated.
• There are many scouting groups and other organizations that sell treats to fundraise for their endeavors. Often you can purchase an item or two to be held until someone in uniform stops buy. Please remember that most organizations have their own program that donations are accepted for and don’t let a surprise gift to an Emergency Responder take away from your donations to these organizations. An additional surprise would be well received.
• The purchases from the above organizations can also be delivered to the places these amazing people work.
The list of ideas can go on and on. Please add your ideas here to show how easy it is to thank First Responders everywhere.
Stay tuned for more ideas and suggestions.
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