With a meal they didn't have to make in the fire station kitchen and music the patrolmen did not have to sing themselves, local law enforcement and firefighters were appreciated at an event in Jefferson City Thursday hosted by the Missouri State Capitol Prayer Warriors.
"We appreciate people who appreciate us," said Firefighter Will Bradford. "We appreciate being able to do what we do and keep people safe."
Missouri Highway Patrol Capt. Michael Turner agreed, "it's nice to be supported by the community, especially in a time when public service is in the limelight and not always for good reasons."
The event, held in the Father Ahrens room at St. Peter Catholic Church, also created an opportunity for members of different agencies to visit.
"This was a touching experience," Turner said.
The Prayer Warriors have been meeting weekly at the Capitol for eight years.
They have collected donations through baked sales and other events to support people they knew who were in need. But this is the first time they have reached out to law enforcement and firefighters, said Van Fisher.
"We felt there has been so much negative publicity toward law enforcement; we wanted to do something positive," said organizer Diane Lindsay.
Most importantly, the Prayer Warriors remember these public servants in prayer, Lindsay said.
"We've seen people healed from prayer," said Helen Coller.
The group of about 35 mostly are legislative assistants, but they have other elected officials and staff from the Capitol, too.
"We try not to be political, because we have members on both sides of the aisle," Fisher said. It's not politics that brings them together, "it's recognizing the needs of others and prayers that need to be said."