LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - Local students showed their appreciation for the first responders in the area.
In honor of National First Responders Month, third and fourth-grade students from Independence Elementary took a trip to a Lima fire station. The students gave the firefighters and police officers pictures they colored and letters to thank them for all they do to keep the community safe.
"I think sometimes there's a stigma around some of the first responders in our community, so getting the kids surrounded by them and working with them shows them that they're not scary. They are here to help us, and they are an important role in our community," said Sarah Miller, social worker at Independence Elementary.
The firefighters also gave the students a tour of the fire station and their emergency vehicles.
"It's kind of cool to see later in life, when it goes full circle, they have an interest in fire, EMS or maybe police. And then you know that excitement of getting to see that when they were young basically translates in the future of them taking up a career in the EMS or fire services," said Kevin Clark, captain with the Lima Fire Department.
The firefighters also gave the students a tour of the fire station and their emergency vehicles.
