|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 345
|
|
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
|
welcome members of the State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' |
|
Association of Texas on Firefighter Legislative Day at the State |
|
Capitol on March 25, 2009; and |
|
WHEREAS, The members of this esteemed organization are |
|
gathering to recognize and honor the tireless and heroic actions |
|
of the members of the Texas fire service; the names of six |
|
courageous volunteer firefighters who died in the line of duty |
|
are being unveiled at the volunteer firemen's monument on the |
|
Capitol grounds; and |
|
WHEREAS, The firemen being honored are Elmer Homilius of |
|
the Comfort Volunteer Fire Department, who died October 15, 1984; |
|
Austin Cheek of the Noonday Volunteer Fire Department, who died |
|
August 3, 2007; Kevin Williams of the Noonday Volunteer Fire |
|
Department, who died August 3, 2007; William Simes of the |
|
Giddings Volunteer Fire Department, who died September 25, 2007; |
|
Robert Knight of the Teague Volunteer Fire Department, who died |
|
July 5, 2008; and Joe Jordan of the Pickton Pine Forest Volunteer |
|
Fire Department, who died July 4, 2008; most of the families of |
|
the fallen firefighters are here with us today; and |
|
WHEREAS, The State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' |
|
Association of Texas is the oldest and the largest fire service |
|
organization in the state; the association was founded in 1876 |
|
and currently represents more than 1,200 fire departments, |
|
19,000 individual members, and 80 industrial fire brigades; and |
|
WHEREAS, The association sponsors and supports the world's |
|
largest fire-training school, held each summer at Texas A&M |
|
University; the association also provides instructors and |
|
professional services on the fire school's advisory board; and |
|
WHEREAS, The cornerstone of the State Firemen's and Fire |
|
Marshals' Association is the certification program for volunteer |
|
firefighters, which encourages training, education, and |
|
certification for all volunteers; and |
|
WHEREAS, Approximately 70 percent of the firefighters |
|
providing fire service to the citizens of Texas are volunteer |
|
firefighters; they volunteer their valuable services, responding |
|
to emergency calls and attending training sessions to learn the |
|
latest firefighting techniques; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st |
|
Legislature, hereby commend the firefighters of Texas for their |
|
courageous actions and devotion to duty on behalf of their fellow |
|
citizens and pay tribute to the volunteer firefighters who have |
|
died in the line of duty; and, be it further |
|
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in |
|
honor of the firefighters and fire marshals of Texas. |
|
Estes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
President of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
I hereby certify that the |
|
|
above Resolution was adopted by |
|
|
the Senate on March 2, 2009. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
Member, Texas Senate |