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2002 SESSION

028714518
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 277
FLOOR AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by Senator Puller
on March 6, 2002)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Puller)
Commending Virginia’s professional firefighters and paramedics.

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia is united in its admiration of the professional firefighters and paramedics who protect its citizens every day; and

WHEREAS, the events of September 11, 2001, affected all citizens, firefighters, and paramedics across the Commonwealth deeply and permanently; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of Virginia’s professional firefighters and paramedics responded quickly and effectively after the brutal attack on the Pentagon—a direct assault on Virginia; and

WHEREAS, in addition to the tremendous response by Virginia’s domestic defenders to the Pentagon attack, many firefighters also selflessly traveled to New York City to support their fellow firefighters in their time of need; and

WHEREAS, firefighters and paramedics from Fairfax County, Henrico County, and Loudoun County and the Cities of Danville, Hampton, Harrisonburg, and Suffolk traveled to New York to offer their assistance; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of firefighters traveled to New York on their own to attend the many funeral and memorial services honoring the 343 Fire Department of New York firefighters and paramedics who perished in the World Trade Center; and

WHEREAS, a dedicated group of Virginia firefighters gave even more of themselves, performing a host of critical duties for the members of the Fire Department of New York and its sister affiliates of the International Association of Firefighters; and

WHEREAS, these Virginia firefighters supported their counterparts in New York in dozens of ways, including administrative work, transportation services, communication with bereaved family members, and many other vital tasks; and

WHEREAS, these Virginians worked tirelessly and with little fanfare for their brothers and sisters in the fire service—neither seeking nor accepting credit for the essential services they performed; and

WHEREAS, a group of these firefighters, led by Fairfax County Fire Lieutenant Patrick Morrison, who is nationally recognized for his efforts to promote health and safety in our nation’s fire departments, provided around-the-clock critical incident counseling services to their fellow firefighters in New York City who were dealing with the loss of 343 of their brothers in uniform; and

WHEREAS, Lieutenant Morrison’s leadership skills, organizational ability and counseling expertise allowed him to integrate 170 counselors from across North America to help ease the pain and start the healing process for firefighters dealing with the largest line-of-duty loss in the fire service’s long and proud history; and

WHEREAS, Lieutenant Morrison’s efforts have prevented emotional and physical stress, and are allowing those firefighters who need assistance to receive it—making it possible for these firefighters to continue to provide service to the citizens of New York; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly salute Virginia's professional firefighters and paramedics for their courageous and selfless actions in the wake of the events of September 11, 2001; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare copies of this resolution for presentation to the Fire and Rescue Departments of Fairfax County, Henrico County, and Loudoun County and the Cities of Danville, Hampton, Harrisonburg, and Suffolk as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration and gratitude for the courage and generosity of Virginia's firefighters and paramedics in their response to the September 11 attacks.