Recognizing workers

I would like the opportunity to mention my thanks to so many people in our community I feel are overlooked. My husband was a retired Marine, and he died in 2015. We have Memorial Day to honor our military personnel, but where and when do any of us take time to notice so many people we encounter on a daily basis?

Teachers, and all the personnel who help to make our children safe on a daily basis, including custodians, office personnel, administrators. Teachers don’t make anywhere near the salary they should. Most teachers go far beyond the classroom on a daily basis, but people don’t see that.

All of our nurses, nurses’ aides, custodians, lab workers, cafeteria workers, and so many other positions filled in our hospitals and clinics. We love to complain when we aren’t happy, but where is our gratitude for the nurse who is at the bedside when a loved one is in distress?

Our many workers who serve the public: Policemen and women, ambulance drivers and the EMTs, the unseen people who work the offices in these places. When we dial 911, there are very skilled people we speak with who may talk a child through what to do in an emergency—without that calming voice on the phone, what might happen to the person who is sick or injured? Our clergy and all who staff and maintain our places of worship.

This is only a short list and I apologize for leaving out dozens of workers I cannot possibly list here. But my thanks go to everyone who works retail, restaurants, bus drivers, airline attendants and other employees. But I ask that we all take time now and then to notice what jobs are being done in our surroundings. So along with Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and other days set aside to recognize a few individuals, I would ask we all take some time to notice all people in the workplace who are far more important than they or anyone else might realize. KAREN NEDDERSEN

Choctaw