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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Firefighters from across Texas are gathering at the |
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State Capitol on March 19, 2019, for Firefighter Appreciation Day |
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and a memorial service honoring their fallen comrades; and |
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WHEREAS, The event is hosted by the State Firefighters' and |
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Fire Marshals' Association of Texas, which represents 22,000 |
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individual members, more than 1,200 fire departments, and 80 |
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industrial fire brigades in the Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, Each year, on average, six firefighters in Texas die |
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in the line of duty; though improvements in safety oversight have |
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resulted in a decrease by half of the number of deaths over the past |
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15 years, firefighting remains one of the most dangerous |
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professions; and |
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WHEREAS, At the ceremony in Austin, 12 firefighters who made |
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the ultimate sacrifice between 2002 and 2018 are being honored by |
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their peers and their families; these heroes include Travis Wiens |
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of the Wichita West Fire Department, Scott Deem of San Antonio FD, |
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Jarrell B. Hinkie of the Silsbee Volunteer Fire Department, Eric |
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Zapalac of Sealy FD, Daryl Barber of Brazoria VFD, Charles |
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Patterson of Bowie Rural VFD, M. V. Hudson of New London FD, Larry |
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Marusik of Ellinger VFD, Caleb Scott of North Richland Hills FD, |
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Bernard Olive of Baytown FD, Frankie Partida Jr. of Glen Flora VFD, |
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and Richard Andy Loller Jr. of Weatherford FD; and |
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WHEREAS, Every day, firefighters and other emergency |
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responders risk their own lives to protect the lives of their fellow |
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citizens, and these skilled and courageous men and women deserve |
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the heartfelt gratitude of every Texan; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Texas firefighters |
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who have died in the line of duty and extend sincere sympathy to the |
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members of their families; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That when the Texas House of Representatives |
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adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Travis Wiens, Scott Deem, |
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Jarrell B. Hinkie, Eric Zapalac, Daryl Barber, Charles Patterson, |
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M. V. Hudson, Larry Marusik, Caleb Scott, Bernard Olive, Frankie |
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Partida Jr., and Richard Andy Loller Jr. |