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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud members of the State Firemen's and Fire |
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Marshals' Association of Texas are gathering on March 23, 2011, to |
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commemorate Firefighter Legislative Day at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, These esteemed men and women are paying tribute to |
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the tireless and heroic actions of all members of the Texas fire |
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service, and especially one courageous volunteer firefighter, |
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Captain Thomas Araguz III, who died in the line of duty and whose |
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name is being unveiled at the Volunteer Firemen monument on the |
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Capitol grounds; and |
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WHEREAS, Captain Araguz was a member of the Wharton Volunteer |
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Fire Department until his death on July 4, 2010, and his family is |
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here with us today to honor his memory; and |
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WHEREAS, Founded in 1876, the State Firemen's and Fire |
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Marshals' Association of Texas is the oldest fire service |
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organization in the state; it is also the largest, with 1,200 fire |
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and emergency services departments, more than 21,000 individual |
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members, 80 industrial fire brigades, and 100 international |
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members; and |
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WHEREAS, SFFMA sponsors and supports the world's largest |
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fire-training school, held each summer at Texas A&M University; the |
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association also provides instructors and professional services on |
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the fire school's advisory board; and |
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WHEREAS, The cornerstone of SFFMA is the certification |
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program for volunteer firefighters, which encourages training, |
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education, and certification for all volunteers; and |
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WHEREAS, Approximately 70 to 80 percent of Texas firefighters |
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are volunteers who attend training sessions to learn the latest |
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firefighting techniques and who contribute their time and effort to |
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respond to emergency calls; and |
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WHEREAS, The State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association |
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of Texas is working to uphold its mission to promote, unify, |
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represent, and educate the fire service of Texas, and it is a |
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privilege to recognize the brave men and women who help safeguard |
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lives and property in communities all across the Lone Star State; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend the firefighters of Texas for their |
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courageous actions and devotion to duty in behalf of their fellow |
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citizens and pay tribute to the volunteer firefighters who have |
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died in the line of duty. |