Laurie and Douglas Bedient took it upon themselves to place an encouraging sign and American flag across from their home at the Army Reserve Training Center on Gerry-Levant Road. “My job is easy, to stay here at home, but other people have a bigger weight,” Laurie Bedient said. “The inspiration is what we are seeing and being bombarded with on television. It is just, our emotions are in turmoil, your life is in turmoil. It was just some letters I had in the basement and a flag my husband had from a conference. I just wanted to make people feel a little better.” The Bedients put up the signage in the hopes of encouraging those who are still required to be out and working during the shutdown, including firefighters and emergency service providers.

P-J photo by Jay Young