HR1053 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1053 LRB095 20318 KXB 47452 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, September 11th is National Firefighters' Day; there are an estimated 1,140,900 firefighters in the United States, of which 316,950 are career firefighters and 823,950 are volunteers; and

WHEREAS, In the past 10 years, there have been an average of 1,684,200 fires in the United States each year; an average of 3,597 Americans lose their lives each year in fire-related tragedies, of which 107 are heroic firefighters dying in the line of duty; and

WHEREAS, These firefighters did not lose their lives in vain but did so in the attempt to save lives, property, and aid the general well being of others; and

WHEREAS, There is no better example of the true need for and bravery of American firefighters than on the tragic day of September 11th, 2001; and

WHEREAS, On September 11th, 2001, 2,451 people were killed, including 341 firefighters, and hundreds were injured, during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City; in line with their professional duty, hundreds of firefighters rushed into the burning towers to save lives as people evacuated the buildings; and

WHEREAS, The true bravery of firefighters in America will never be forgotten after the events of September 11th, nor should it ever be, as we continue to honor the spirit, strength, and duty to protect others that our nation's firefighters display every day; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the day of September 11th as National Firefighters' Day and thank the many men and women of the United States who serve as firefighters and devote themselves to the protection of others at the risk of their own lives day after day; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to David B. Foreman, State Fire Marshal.