PRINTER'S NO. 2002
No. 316 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY ORIE, BAKER, STACK, PUNT, PILEGGI, TOMLINSON, STOUT, FERLO, C. WILLIAMS, BRUBAKER, BOSCOLA, O'PAKE, FONTANA, GORDNER, TARTAGLIONE, MELLOW, KASUNIC, MUSTO, ARMSTRONG, ERICKSON, WASHINGTON, COSTA, PIPPY, REGOLA, WONDERLING, EARLL, FOLMER, GREENLEAF, SCARNATI, WAUGH, LOGAN, RAFFERTY, DINNIMAN, FUMO AND KITCHEN, APRIL 30, 2008
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, APRIL 30, 2008
A RESOLUTION 1 Recognizing and honoring firefighters throughout this 2 Commonwealth for their bravery, dedication and heroism and 3 designating May 4, 2008, as "Firefighters' Day" in 4 Pennsylvania. 5 WHEREAS, In 1736 Benjamin Franklin founded the first 6 volunteer fire company, Union Fire Company, in Philadelphia, 7 making Pennsylvania the birthplace of the volunteer fire service 8 in North America; and 9 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has approximately 2,400 fire companies; 10 and 11 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has the largest number of fire 12 departments in the nation and is a national leader in the number 13 of career and paid personnel providing emergency services; and 14 WHEREAS, In this Commonwealth, 95% of fire companies are 15 staffed by volunteers, totaling about 78,000 volunteers, the 16 largest number of volunteer firefighters in the nation; and 17 WHEREAS, On average, ten Pennsylvania firefighters die in the
1 line of duty every year; and 2 WHEREAS, Firefighters perform selfless tasks quietly and 3 often without the recognition they deserve, risking their lives 4 daily to protect the lives and property of the citizens of this 5 Commonwealth; and 6 WHEREAS, Changes in society and in the environment have 7 increased the dangers these individuals face daily in the 8 performance of their duties as protectors of the citizens and 9 property of this Commonwealth; and 10 WHEREAS, The increased threat of terrorism, illicit drug labs 11 and hazardous material incidents have placed firefighters in 12 greater danger than ever before in the history of firefighting; 13 and 14 WHEREAS, Although Pennsylvania has always depended heavily on 15 its firefighters, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, 16 and the heightened awareness of future threats has only 17 increased their important role as first responders; and 18 WHEREAS, The time that firefighters devote to protecting the 19 lives and property of the citizens of this Commonwealth 20 represents time taken away from their family members; therefore 21 be it 22 RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize and honor the bravery and 23 sacrifice of firefighters in this Commonwealth, extend thanks 24 for their service and, on the occasion of "International 25 Firefighters Day," designate May 4, 2008, as "Firefighters' Day" 26 in Pennsylvania; and be it further 27 RESOLVED, That on this day all firefighters in this 28 Commonwealth be honored at the Capitol as a sign of gratitude 29 for their dedication, service and sacrifice, including the 30 giving of their lives, in order to protect the lives and 20080S0316R2002 - 2 -
1 property of the citizens of this Commonwealth. D23L82JS/20080S0316R2002 - 3 -