TEXARKANA -- Police officers, firefighters and other first responders were treated to free lunches Wednesday as part of the seventh annual EMS Appreciation Week.
Boxed lunches from Big Jake's BBQ were served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at both the Texarkana, Arkansas, Convention Center and the Texarkana, Texas, Convention Center. The lunches were for anyone who is EMS, law enforcement or a firefighter.
The event was sponsored by Eagle Distributing, Farmers Bank and Trust and Texarkana Funeral Home. At 11:30 a.m. sponsors put out a Facebook live message on their Facebook pages.
"We thank you for what you do and we appreciate what you do. This is our way of saying thank you," said Dr. Matt Young, director of Texarkana Emergency Center and Hospital, main sponsor of the luncheons.
Mayor Bob Bruggeman of Texarkana, Texas, and Mayor Allen Brown of Texarkana, Arkansas, also read proclamations declaring Wednesday first responders day in Texarkana.