The "thanks" these workers get is reflected in their paychecks, just like my "thanks" I get for doing my job. Everyday heroes? The word "hero" is thrown around way too much these days.  There are actually very few true heroes. Certainly these workers do not qualify, though I have nothing against them either.  Also, if a water main breaks on Friday night and it isn't fixed until Sunday morning, that's not exactly a quick fix.