PUEBLO – Today, Mayor Nick Gradisar wished Puebloans a safe and blessed Thanksgiving, thanking them for their sacrifice to fight COVID-19.

“A lot has been asked of Pueblo; you have been asked to sacrifice personal comfort, to change your business operations, and to disrupt your modern life – all for the safety of others.

When the final analysis is made and the pandemic is over; my hope is that we don’t look back in anger, but we remember through sacrifice and perseverance – Puebloans came together to save lives and to protect our historic city. 

With my sincerest gratitude, I want to thank you for your effort and sacrifice – while it may not seem big, you are making a difference.”

He urged Puebloans to say a Thanksgiving prayer for the Puebloans who died due to COVID-19 and for those sick or experience prolonged effects from the virus. 

“Pueblo must remain mindful today that our purpose and resolve is to make a better city, to build a strong Pueblo when the pandemic recedes. And for those families and businesses who have lost much, we must help them heal and become whole once more.”

Mayor Gradisar thanked healthcare heroes at Parkview and St. Mary-Corwin Hospitals as well as staff at long-term care facilities. 

“These doctors, nurses, and all the support staff put their own lives at risk to save Puebloans for months. There has not been a day since March where a healthcare hero did not suit up in personal protective gear, start their shift, and wonder if they would spread COVID-19 home to their family. But they pushed forward to save the lives of Puebloans. They are the ones holding the phone for one final goodbye. They are the ones in the room as someone breathes on their own again. They say a welcomed goodbye when someone returns home to recover with family. They protected us, and we must continue to protect them.”

He also thanked essential workers for keeping the economy open and giving Puebloans confidence that the fabric of society still holds.

“Our essential workers risked getting this virus to bag groceries or to make us a meal. You kept Pueblo open, and we all thank you,” he said.

In his address, he thanked teachers for “teaching in uncertain situations.” 

And he called on Pueblo to stay vigilant as it will take months to battle the pandemic. 

“Our effort is not over as we still have many more months to stop this virus, so in this long dark of winter, there is the light of hope, and that is the spirit and dedication of Puebloans, stepping up, doing our part to protect this city we love,” said Mayor Gradisar.

The full message can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/CGjSIn0zyTY