We here at the Sullivan County Democrat have written countless editorials thanking our county’s firefighters, police officers, emergency responders and veterans over the years. Often during those special days set aside to thank them—Veterans Day, Memorial Day, etc. 

So why thank them now on a random Friday in March? Well, because they show up for us every single day of the year, not just on those calendar holidays. Literally they do not take a day off. 

We attended the Jeffersonville Fire Department’s awards dinner on Saturday night (see story on page 1B) and it was a nice reminder of the time and dedication they put into the fire service. 

It’s not just answering calls—it’s hours and hours of training before they can join, and keep up with after they are sworn in. 

In fact, it’s those training hours that are increasingly becoming a barrier for new members to join fire and ambulance squads, creating a volunteer shortage. 

We need young people to carry on the tradition of signing up for their local fire department and continuing to keep our communities safe. 

What will you do if there’s no one to show up for you?

We will also honor our emergency responders in the upcoming 911 Tab, a special section dedicated to the men and women who put their lives on the line to respond to fires, medical emergencies, and everything in between. 

So on this random day in March we say: thank you for your service. 

Postscript: And on page 2B of this issue you will find an obituary for Robert Somers, a career firefighter with the Monticello Fire Department. Somers first served as a volunteer firefighter before beginning his career as a paid firefighter in 1966, and was a past president of Monticello Fire Department and Deputy Coordinator for the Sullivan County Bureau of Fire. A life full of service indeed.