What we all are going through right now is a tough thing and that's putting it mildly.  Our daily lives have been turned upside down, and everyone is doing the best they can. 

Hard times are no stranger to this part of Ohio, or to this area of the country in general.  We have had our share of adversity, I would guess more than our fair share.  And without question more than many other parts of the country.  Everyone has their challenges no matter where they live. But many areas haven't fought the "way of life battle" like this area of the country.  Been going on a long time now.  This is just the latest saga. This for a rare opportunity has everyone in the exact same boat.

Yes, here is what many call of course, The Rust Belt.  Older, proud, important cities that had amazing times, and now are in the process of reinventing themselves after a huge industrial boom gone by. The boom that built this country.  Some places have recovered, some have not, and some probably never will.  But you know what?  We roll on.  We understand more than most about tough times.

Being tough comes from tough times. We help those in need, because we have had need ourselves.  We support our neighbors, because we know them. We rise up, when others more fortunate tell us to stay down. We don't quit.  We just find another gear, another way, and we move on.  It's a fighting spirit that shows up occasionally and temporarily in other more glamorous areas of our country, and they are lauded for days on the National Networks and celebrated endlessly for a fighting spirit that fades with the memory of the event.  They learned that from us.  Not the fading part, but the spirit part.  Bring your cameras here sometime, and show the rest of the country the strength that is seared into us from life's fiery kiln that burns within us every day, not just when things are going wrong.

This thing is going to come, and one day go.  And we will still be here.  And the push back DNA that is in all of us will be reinvigorated  - only deeper.  We will be better, faster and stronger than before.  Today, we will support those who need a big helping hand, and they will remember that after this storm has passed.  For one day it will be our turn to need help, and they will then be there for us.  That's the Akron way, that's the Midwest Way, that's the strength that chisels the rust off the belt. 

Up the road, this will end.  We don't like it, but we are ready, and we are better at this than most.  And I'm proud of that.