On Monday April 11, Sawnee EMC is celebrating Lineworker Appreciation Day, encouraging the community to join in the recognition and thank a lineman. 

According to a press release by the organization, lineworkers are what keep electric cooperatives like Sawnee EMC running smoothing across the nation. These lineworkers work around the clock to keep the lights on in communities across the country, and each year Lineworker Appreciation Day is designed to pause and honor the local lineworkers for all they do. 

“It takes a special level of commitment, training and resourcefulness for our linemen to work through the challenges they face each day,” Sawnee EMC’s Vice President of Operations Chet Blackstock said in the release. “They are the first responders of our electric distribution operations and work around the clock until the job is done.” 

According to the release, Sawnee EMC has about 125 linemen who are responsible for keeping the power flowing around the clock over 11,855 miles of power lines that expand over parts of seven counties.

“These brave employees are committed to safety, as well as reliability, while meeting the complex challenges of the job,” the release said. “Being a lineman is essential to the life of our communities and without the exceptional dedication and commitment of our hardworking employees we simply would not have the reliable electricity that is needed for everyday life.” 

The release added that, in order for lineworkers to do their job well, it takes not only years of specialized training and apprenticeships but also internal fortitude and a mission-oriented outlook. 

Sawnee EMC is encouraging community members to take a moment to thank a lineworker on April 11 by using the hashtag #ThankALineman on social media “to show your support for those who light our lives”. The organization is also posting special lineworker appreciation posts on and around April 11 on social media at www.facebook.com/SawneeEMC and at www.twitter.com/SawneeEMC.