Inside Wednesday’s edition of your Alpena News, you could find this year’s edition of Hometown Heroes, a special salute from The News and its advertisers to first responders across Northeast Michigan.

The special section offered thanks to all of the firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel who don the uniform every day to protect our lives and our property.

We repeat that thanks now.

Northeast Michigan is a safe place to live, and we owe that to the region’s people and to the first responders who make sure it stays so.

But don’t let that publication be the end of our gratitude.

We call on all readers: If you see an officer, firefighter, or emergency medical staffer, give them a pat on the back or shake their hand and tell them thanks for all they do.

They truly are our hometown heroes, and they are owed our gratitude.