Treasure Coast employees work on Christmas Day

STUART, Fla. - Pharmacy technician Rita Palmer said it's typical for business to pick up during the holidays.

"We've seen a lot of people that come from the ER," she said. "There's a lot of families here from different parts of the country, and guess what? They're sick, and they need medicine."

Palmer is used to working on the big day.

"I don't have little ones that open Christmas gifts on Christmas, and the other girls do, and they need to be with their families on Christmas Day," she said.

She's not the only one who's making a sacrifice for co-workers. Port St. Lucie police officer Vincent Randazzo said he chose to work today.

"I don't think I've had a Christmas off in ten years," he reflected.

He works holidays so his fellow officers can take time off.

"We're a family here, also, so if other officers have kids, and a family that they have to tend to, other officers will cover the shift for them," he said.

The family love is also flowing just down the street at the Buckeye Sports Bar.

Brian Schauer said he was meant to be a bartender.

"My family's done this for years," said Schauer. "My great-grandfather, my grandfather, my father, and me."

He's expecting a crowd after Christmas dinner.

"When people are done eating at home, they want to come out and relax a little bit, play some pool, and there's lots of stuff to do," he said. "And see their family away from their family!"