Over the past week, I had the opportunity to meet with our local first responders throughout Central and Southside Virginia who work together to protect the two cities, 21 counties, and 39 towns that make up Virginia’s Fifth District.

It is an honor and a privilege to have such dedicated members of the community working to ensure our safety. As a small token of our gratitude, we dedicated the week to recognize their commitment and sacrifice. Communities throughout Virginia’s Fifth District rely on volunteer firefighters, emergency responders, law enforcement, and others, and we are thankful for their leadership. Every time our community first responders put on their turnout gear, they are face grave danger and could suffer injury to themselves, but they do that out of love for their communities, and I think that is something we can all learn from.   

Robert Hurt, a Republican, represents Lunenburg County in the U.S. House of Representatives. He can be reached at his Farmville office at (434) 395-0120.