PORTSMOUTH, Va - WAVY.com met several men and women who've lived in Portsmouth for decades. They spent years putting their lives on the line for neighbors and strangers alike. And even now, though they are all retired, they proved this week - they're still willing to sacrifice.

They got together at a union hall on Winchester Drive Wednesday night. Like a family, they laughed together. And they prayed together.

A man stood at the front of the room and urged everyone to remember the two Portsmouth Police officers shot earlier in the day. He continued in a prayer that ended the meeting.

"and give us peace and understanding forever more, Amen."

Like a family, the people gathered in the hall willingly sacrificed for some not so distance relatives.
Retired Portsmouth Police Officer Richard Markel, told WAVY.com "We gave up any chance of having a COLA this year, or pay raise - to help the city out."

That's right, the retired firefighters and police officers of Portsmouth volunteered to give up any increase in their fixed incomes.

Robert Turner said, "We saw where the city was going to take back some money from the regular employees. and we were against that."

Turner a retired firefighter, and Vice president of the Retired Firefighters and Police Officers Association of Portsmouth read a letter Portsmouth Council members at the Tuesday night meeting.
It said in part:
"We understand that our citizens, employees and retirees are struggling to make ends meet... We ask council because of our love for Portsmouth, to forego a cost of living for us this year for the retired police and firefighters. Please use this money to support the needs of Portsmouth.... Times are hard, but we can get through this if we all come together and work towards a better and more prosperous Portsmouth."

The sentiment, expressed even after council members decided against pay cuts for current employees - is appreciated.

Councilman Steve Heretick told WAVY.com, "When you see citizens, especially retirees who don't have it to give and are willing to get in the boat and help us row to make ends meet, that's really inspirational."

The boat is pretty full in Portsmouth. Earlier this month council members voted to cut their pay. Appointees like the city manager, clerk, attorney, and assessor, all volunteered to give up the equivalent of a week's pay. Their decisions came hours before the Council imposed a furlough on non-sworn employees at a February 10th meeting.

At that meeting, city workers - concerned about losing money - still shared tender feelings while asking for a reprieve.
Several said they "love Portsmouth," and "we are family."

And now Portsmouth's budget shortfall of is down to half a million dollars. That money won't come from paychecks, instead Heretick said the city will likely use a rarely touched reserve fund.
"Which really is the city's rainy day savings account. I tell you if it's not raining, I don't know what it is doing," he explained.

So, the brothers and sisters who literally wear the family emblem on their hearts, and the generation that came before them - will breathe a brief sigh of relief... with a hopeful eye to the future.

By the way, the letter read to Council ended with, "We hope if the economy or stimulus creates change, you will remember us."