W14: Unsung Heroes - A Lineman’s Act Of Kindness Honoring Veterans
In the chaos of everyday life, we often overlook the quiet heroes who keep our homes running—utility workers. This episode shares the inspiring story of a lineman who, after 60 grueling hours restoring power in freezing conditions, showed his gratitude to another group of unsung heroes—veterans. At Riley’s Smokehouse in Marion, Illinois, this exhausted worker took a moment to thank a table of retired servicemen for their sacrifices. But he didn’t stop there. This episode is a simple, powerful reminder that service comes in many forms, and kindness leaves a lasting impact. Tune in for a story of humility, gratitude, and the true meaning of service.
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W14: UNSUNG HEROES - A LINEMAN’S ACT OF KINDNESS HONORING VETERANS
AS MANY OF US PLOD ALONG THROUGH OUR BUSY LIVES, GRINDING OUT LONG DAYS AT WORK, RAISING FAMILIES, AND TRYING TO REACH OUR NEXT GOAL, IT’S EASY TO TAKE FOR GRANTED THE PEOPLE WORKING IN OFTEN LOW-PAYING JOBS KEEPING ALL OF US COMFORTABLE. I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT FIREFIGHTERS, POLICEMEN AND WOMEN, EMT’S, OR MILITARY SERVICEMEMBERS….IT SEEMS LIKE WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF REMINDING THOSE PEOPLE HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THEIR SERVICE….
A GROUP WE OFTEN FORGET ARE THE ONES WHO SPRING INTO ACTION WHEN THE COMFORT WE ALL ENJOY IN OUR BUSINESSES AND HOMES IS INTERRUPTED …. I’M TALKING ABOUT THE UTILITY WORKERS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING THE HEAT, POWER, AND WATER ON…THE ONES TO KEEP US WATCHING OUR TVS AND MICROWAVING OUR POPCORN IN COMFORT.
THIS IS A STORY ABOUT ONE OF THESE WORKERS WHO, A FEW WEEKS AGO, AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF WORKING IN THE SNOW TO HELP RESTORE POWER – WHO WAS LIKELY COLD AND EXHAUSTED – WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT GROUP OF PEOPLE AND HE DID SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR THEM TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THEIR SERVICE…
EPISODE
ON JANUARY 5TH, A SIGNIFICANT SNOW AND ICE STORM ROLLED THROUGH THE MIDWEST KNOCKING OUT POWER TO MORE THAN 100,000 RESIDENTS IN MISSOURI, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS, SOUTHWEST INDIANA, AND NORTHWEST KENTUCKY. BONE-CHILLING COLD BEHIND THE STORM MEANT THAT UTILITY CREWS WERE IN A RACE TO RESTORE POWER TO THESE HOMES AND GET PEOPLE’S HEAT BACK ON AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT AREAS WAS MARION ILLINOIS, A SMALL TOWN IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS, A FEW HOURS DRIVE FROM ST. LOUIS. FAMILIES DID THEIR BEST TO STAY WARM WITH GENERATORS AND FIREPLACES WHILE CREWS CLEARED TREES AND FIXED LINES.
THE CREWS IN THAT AREA WERE FROM AMEREN ILLINOIS, THE AREA POWER UTILITY.
MANY OF THESE UTILITY WORKERS MAKE MODEST SALARIES, BUT DURING STORMS LIKE THIS ONE, WHERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THEIR POWER INTERRUPTED, LINEMEN WORK AROUND THE CLOCK, AND OFTEN RECEIVE OVERTIME PAY, WHICH GOES A LONG WAY IN HELPING THEM MAKE ENDS MEET.
BY THE MORNING OF JANUARY 8TH, AMEREN ILLINOIS CREWS HAD BEEN CLEARING TREES AND FIXING LINES FOR OVER 60 HOURS.
A LARGE GROUP OF LINEMEN, LOOKING FOR A WARM MEAL, HEADED INTO RILEY’S SMOKEHOUSE, THEIR FAVORITE MARION HANGOUT. THE PLACE WAS BUSY. THEY ENJOYED THEIR BREAKFASTS, DRANK HOT COFFEE, AND TALKED ABOUT THE WORK THEY HAD BEEN DOING.
FOR THE OTHER PATRONS, IT WAS SUDDENLY TOUGH TO FIND A TABLE WITH THE LINEWORKERS ALL ARRIVING IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
ONE OF THE SMOKEHOUSE REGULARS WAS CHARLIE KEMP, IS A RETIRED AIR FORCE VETERAN FROM MARION. HE AND SEVEN OTHERS, A SMALL GROUP OF LOCAL NAVY, AIR FORCE, ARMY, AND MARINE CORPS VETERANS, MEET AT RILEY’S SMOKEHOUSE EVERY OTHER WEEK TO CATCH UP AND TALK ABOUT THEIR DAYS IN THE SERVICE. ON THIS MORNING, WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THEY WERE SHOCKED BY THE LARGE GROUP OF LINEWORKERS FILLING THE PLACE. THEY WAITED PATIENTLY AND EVENTUALLY WERE SEATED AT A TABLE.
WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR THE LINEWORKERS TO GET BACK OUTSIDE AND CONTINUE THEIR WORK, SO THEY FINISHED THEIR MEALS, PAID THEIR CHECKS, AND SHUFFLED OUT OF THE RESTAURANT AS A GROUP.
HOWEVER, BEFORE LEAVING, ONE LINEWORKER HEADED OVER TO THE TABLE WHERE THE VETERANS WERE SITTING.
HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF AND, BECAUSE HE RECOGNIZED THEM AS VETERANS, WANTED TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR MILITARY SERVICE. THEY HAD A PLEASANT EXCHANGE, WITH THE VETERANS ALSO THANKING THE LINEWORKER FOR HIS SERVICE.
LATER, THE GROUP OF VETERANS FINISHED UP AND THEY ASKED FOR THEIR CHECK. THE SERVER RETURNED AND SAID SHE HAD GREAT NEWS…. THAT THE LINEWORKER THEY HAD SPOKEN WITH, JUST AS HE WAS HEADING BACK OUT INTO THE COLD TO REPAIR ELECTRICAL LINES, HAD PAID THE ENTIRE CHECK FOR ALL EIGHT VETERANS.
YOU KNOW, WE THANK PEOPLE FOR THEIR SERVICE ALMOST AUTOMATICALLY, WHEN WE SEE SOMEONE IN THEIR MILITARY UNIFORM IN A LINE FOR FOOD AT THE AIRPORT, OR WHEN WE SEE A FIREFIGHTER AT THE GROCERY STORE… AND THEY DESERVE TO BE REMINDED HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THEIR SERVICE.
WE FORGET THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKING SACRIFICES.
THIS THOUGHTFUL LINEWORKER WAS JUST ONE OF A SOLID GROUP OF MEN AND WOMEN OUT THERE WHO DON’T THINK TWICE ABOUT DOING THEIR JOB – THEY SAY GOODBYE TO THEIR FAMILIES, LOAD UP THEIR GEAR AND DRIVE INTO A FREEZING-COLD, STORM-RAVAGED AREA, TO WORK FOR DAYS AT A TIME, DOING WHATEVER IS REQUIRED, SO THE REST OF US CAN KICK UP OUR FEET, OPEN OUR BAGS OF POPCORN, AND SURF THE INTERNET IN THE WARMTH OF OUR OWN HOMES.
https://www.kfvs12.com/2025/01/08/power-restoration-efforts-continue-southern-illinois/