Dear journalists,

Thank you. You don't hear these words enough if ever. You let people know the truth no matter how hard it may be to hear. You are the biggest protectors of the First Amendment even though people like to say otherwise. You take more threats and rude comments than anyone ever should. You expose horrible things and still get ridiculed for simply doing your job. It's heartbreaking but also inspiring. Each and every journalist is a fighter. You fight for the truth. You fight the struggle of finding words to piece together a story. You fight people, who constantly spew hateful words. You fight "fake news". You fight for your voice to be heard. Even through all of these fights, you still inspire me and so many others. Last year, I went to the Newseum in Washington D.C. There's a wall there of fallen journalists. There are thousands of pictures of journalists, who have lost their lives while reporting the news. It shatters my heart to know that five more pictures will be added to that wall after today's events. Even after today, I know that you and other journalists will continue to fight - probably even more now than ever before. I also know that while you continue the fight, you will also continue to inspire people like me. Your bravery and resilience inspires a small town girl like me to become a journalist or at least to always tell and share the truth. For that, I thank you.

Sincerely,

An Inspired Small Town Girl