Morgan Myers understands what it means to fight for something she believes in.

The Putnam County resident served her country as a member of the United States Marine Corps and was exposed to toxic chemicals. 

She is now doing everything in her power to raise awareness and protest the toxic materials that have arrived in at the Heritage Environmental Services hazardous waste landfill from East Palestine, Ohio. 

"I am now a scar covered billboard for what environmental damage does. I am a breast cancer survivor of six years. I am fortunate to be alive, while my friend Sgt. Alyson Perez is not. She left behind two young children, and I believe if she were here today, she would be fighting alongside me for environmental justice for our community to ensure that our children will be safe. She is dead from toxic exposure. It is my duty to prevent this from happening to others. If our community isn't outraged, then they aren't paying attention," Myers told The Putnam County Post. 

She is trying to raise awareness and attention, having organized a protest Thursday that began at Heritage and ended at the Putnam County Courthouse. 

Myers admitted the protest was "emotionally draining," and said she felt ill after being at the Heritage Environmental Services landfill.

"After protesting over there, mine and my daughter's lungs are heavy and have a burning feeling. There was only seven of us. It was small, but I knew a stand had to be made. I felt like none of our elected officials stood up for us at the community meeting in Russellville. It felt like that meeting was just to appease the public. There were already three loads of the toxic waste there at the facility before we even had the meeting. The toxic waste was coming, regardless of our concerns. It was obvious after that meeting that we, the people, were going to have to be the onest to fight this. If not us, then who?," Myers said. 

And, she is continuing the fight, organizing a protest today at noon at the Putnam County Courthouse. 

"If you care about the well being of our Putnam County children and if you don't want them to be a part of a future documentary series of why everyone here has cancer and fertility issues, you absolutely need to make a stand and let the entire county know that this is not right or acceptable for Putnam County or any other community," Myers said. 

Myers admits she is worried about dioxins being released into local water and the environment. 

"Dioxins cause fertility issues, miscarriages and cancer. I am worried that Putnam County is going to end up being a documentary in the next few years. East Palestine, Ohio is already destroyed. Why take the chance of moving the chemicals again to run another community. The Heritage facility has had violation after violation and I don't trust that they have any of Putnam County's best interests in mind. All they are concerned about is money," Myers said. 

Living close to the facility, Myers notes her children "live in the creeks over the summer."

"Like many residents, we fish in these creeks, swim in them, and eat the fish we catch. Who will be overseeing the practices of this facility to make sure we don't have a leak and how often will they be testing the waters," she mentioned. 

What would she like to see happen as a result of the protests?

"My hope is for the best possible outcome. It is a lose-lose situation all around, but I think the toxic waste should be handled in the area that it has already destroyed. It should stay in East Palestine and not be brought to the other communities across the nation to ruin our environments as well. It is a horrible situation for all of us," she said.

Myers is also optimistic Norfolk Southern is held accountable.  

"The Norfolk Southern Corporation needs to be held accountable for these atrocities. We need better regulations on trains, including steeper fines for safety regulations/violations, and a focused safety inspection program on routes over which high hazard flammable trains travel," Myers said. 

And, she wants to seel the soil tested.

"I want the soil being brought in to be tested for dioxins and if found, it needs to be removed immediately. I also want Heritage Environmental Services to be scrutinized and to make sure that they are following every regulation to a T. I want to make sure that our water is being tested and reported on regularly. I want money set aside for training locals on toxic waste cleanup if a leak were to happen and money set aside for the potential health issues that our community may be facing in the future as well," Myers said.