S-3348.1  _______________________________________________

                    SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8027

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington   57th Legislature        2002 Regular Session

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 01/15/2002.  Referred to Committee on State & Local Government.

Requesting a day of recognition for fire fighters and emergency medical service technicians.

    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 and emergency medical service technicians 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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