I am the wife of a veteran and a paramedic.

I wish to give a big thank you to two local businesses that took time out to recognize these individuals. I am writing about Best Buy and Applebee’s. Best Buy for giving local emergency providers (police officers, firefighters and emergency medical services) an opportunity to save some money while purchasing a product they may not have been able to afford otherwise. Best Buy opened their doors after hours in order to offer this sale to the above mentioned people. The sales staff applauded them as they entered the store. What a feeling.

I wish to also offer my thanks and appreciation to Applebee’s for its big Veterans Day celebration. It offered a free meal to any veteran of the armed services. All you had to do was show up. It was very crowded, as well it should have been. It was very emotional and educational to sit and look over the crowd (singles, couples and families) and think about what these men and women have done for us. Eating out has been sharply curtailed by many more than we realize. Some of the diners were, very likely, living without benefit of a pension or retirement benefit. They could enjoy a nice meal out at no charge.

Again, it was great.

A lot of eateries in the area offer discounts to EMS providers, but sadly the paramedics are often overlooked. These men and women also “put their lives on the line” daily, if only by making it through the traffic with emergency lights and sirens and people still cutting them off in traffic or pulling out in front of them.

So kudos to these particular businesses for remembering some of the most important people you hope you never have to meet.

Nancy K. Hinkle

Smiths Grove