The 10th Mountain Division monument at Thompson Park that honors the soldiers of Fort Drum is as stunning as it is meaningful.

“My father retired at Fort Drum many years ago, and we chose to stay here in the community,” Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors President Jennifer Flynn said of her family.

That's why it's important for people like Flynn to help keep it looking pristine.

“Believe it or not, we find a whole bunch of different trash that's lodged up here and kind makes the monument and the lights, you know, not shine as bright as they should,” Flynn said.

Flynn and other members of the Jefferson Louis Board of Realtors are at the monument as part of a program called "Realtors are Good Neighbors" that helps clean up and spruce up the monument. It’s their way of saying — to each and every soldier of the 10th Mountain — thank you.

“You know, to most of us, we have a connection to the military, whether it's friends, family. And they give a lot to us and to our community,” she said.

And they want to give back, not only through this monument, but during those times that military families have to move — re-stationed again and again. The stresses with that can pile up.

“If you get a good realtor that that's able to connect with you, tell you about the community, tell you about the schools, or even give you guidance to look for the best restaurants and that that's what we should do,” Flynn added.

Because in the end, when a soldier deployed overseas knows his or her family is being taken care of —  is safe and comfortable —  that's one less thing to worry about.

The board says finding a good realtor is even more important when it’s a first-time home buying situation.