EDITORIAL: A special thank you

Published 4:00 pm Thursday, March 19, 2020

As the world faces a global pandemic, there are millions of people we all should be thanking — those working to meet the difficult challenges the coronavirus outbreak has placed upon us.

They are the educators, scientists, health care professionals, the sanitation and postal workers, truck drivers, foodservice and grocery employees, law enforcement and emergency personnel and numerous others.

Thank you to the school officials who have grappled with making difficult decisions regarding scheduling, sporting events and whether or not to keep the classroom doors open. We know that none of these decisions have been easy and that you have faced criticism. We know that matter what decisions are made going forward, there will still be scrutiny. We also know that because education is your calling, even now, you worry about your students and whether their needs, both personal and academic, are being met. Many of you are checking in with your students and helping them with assignments.

To the health care workers, dealing with the unknowns associated with this virus — we can’t thank you enough. 

While many of us are trying to figure out how to stay away from people as much as possible to avoid illness, these folks are gearing up for battle and running into the fire. People who work in clinics, hospitals, and care facilities are the heroes of this global story, knowingly putting themselves at risk.

You all are on the front lines, making difficult decisions, handling the unknowns and dealing with the scrutiny. All the while you have your own families to consider in the midst of all of this. 

Your work is too often thankless and unheralded, and that shouldn’t be the case, especially right now.

This is not easy, it’s stressful for many of us. We know it’s not easy.

Thank you for your work and dedication.