Pay our heroes what they deserve

I feel the heroes of communities -- firefighters, EMTs, and teachers -- are not getting the pay and the recognition they deserve. These people help lives every day in their line of work, and for that I feel strongly they should be paid much more.

Many firefighters, because of the salary they make, it is just not enough to support a family, causing them to have to work second and third jobs. Teachers help people of all ages. This world would not be anything without teachers and education. They deserve better pay because of the good things they give to the people in their communities.

Many people know teachers and firefighters deserve to be paid more, and there needs to be a solution to fix it. How is it that a baseball player can make more money for each time he goes up to bat then some of these people make in a year?

Teachers and firefighters are the true role models of America. It is time to start paying them more money, like the true heroes that they are.

Chris Lloyd Parks

St. Charles