Just because a person does their job and provides you the service that you have asked for or paid for, doesn’t mean that person does not deserve your thanks.

Such is the case with members of the U.S. Armed Forces currently operating the free medical care units in Demopolis, Hayneville and here in Selma.

Through Friday, doctors specializing in a number of areas had seen nearly 6,000 Black Belt residents. This operation not only provides a stop-gap for those who are under-insured — or not insured — the critical care they need, but it also provides the men and women of Armed Forces’ medical units experience in their related fields and operating in an unfamiliar area.

The Army, Air Force and Navy personnel who are currently staffing the medical outposts in these three areas are not from the Black Belt region, most of them are not even from Alabama. For some, this marks their first visit to our state and they are making this visit to help us.

We cannot thank them enough.

The efficient and professional manner in which these operations have been run is a testament to the sound, military bearing that makes our military — and specifically our military’s medical unit — so powerful.

This event — which is officially called the Department of Defense’s Innovative Readiness Training Program — will only last through Thursday, but the impact these men and women will have left on our communities will be linger for far longer.

There is little doubt they have improved the quality of life for many of our residents and maybe — just maybe — the test they run, or the condition they discover, can go to save someone’s life.

Again, we cannot thank them enough.

For those who have come to our hometowns for the very first time — maybe for the only time — we offer our most sincere thanks and appreciation.

As you do get ready to leave, we offer a heartfelt hoo-rah and fair winds and following seas.