S-3765.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8027
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State of Washington 57th Legislature 2002 Regular Session
By Senate Committee on State & Local Government (originally sponsored by Senators Parlette, Gardner, Carlson, Hewitt, Swecker, Oke, Long, McCaslin, Benton, Sheahan, Rossi, Winsley, Eide, Keiser, McAuliffe, Hale, Roach, Kohl‑Welles and Rasmussen)
READ FIRST TIME 01/25/2002.
TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
WHEREAS, On September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center was attacked when two hijacked commercial airplanes crashed into the Center's towers; and
WHEREAS, Hundreds of New York City fire fighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency medical service technicians responded immediately with courage and conviction as they raced into the burning, crumbling towers to evacuate survivors; and
WHEREAS, Many of these brave and selfless public servants made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives in an attempt to rescue victims as the towers abruptly collapsed; and
WHEREAS, The valiant acts of these individuals embody the sworn duty of the men and women who choose to serve their communities as fire fighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency medical service technicians; and
WHEREAS, Each year the United States loses approximately 100 of the 1,200,000 men and women in fire service in the line of duty, including the recent tragic deaths of four fire fighters in the Cascade Mountains of Washington state during the ThirtyMile fire; and
WHEREAS, Fire service personnel and emergency medical service technicians selflessly respond to over 16,000,000 emergency calls annually, without reservation and with an unwavering commitment to the safety of their fellow citizens; and
WHEREAS, The first week of October is National Fire Prevention Week and the National Fallen Fire Fighters Foundation sponsors an official National Tribute to all fire fighters who died in the line of duty during the week of remembrance; and
WHEREAS, Our nation's law enforcement officers are formally recognized for their extraordinary contributions and sacrifices with a "Police Officer's Week" and National "Peace Officer Day" each year;
NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that an annual day of national recognition for fire fighters, emergency medical service technicians, and law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty be established by the Congress assembled and that this day coincide with the National Fire Prevention Week in October of each year.
BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.
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