Bill Text: CA ACR122 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: California Firefighter Appreciation Month and California Firefighters Memorial Day.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 60-21-1)
Status: (Passed) 2022-08-19 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 125, Statutes of 2022. [ACR122 Detail]
Download: California-2021-ACR122-Chaptered.html
Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 122
CHAPTER 125
Relative to California Firefighter Appreciation Month and California Firefighters Memorial Day.
[
Filed with
Secretary of State
August 19, 2022.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 122, Seyarto.
California Firefighter Appreciation Month and California Firefighters Memorial Day.
This measure would, among other things, proclaim the month of July 2022 as California Firefighter Appreciation Month and July 30, 2022, as California Firefighters Memorial Day.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee: NOBill Text
WHEREAS, The California Firefighters Memorial, located on the grounds of the State Capitol, serves to honor and commemorate California firefighters who unwaveringly serve our great state with pride, courage, and honor; and
WHEREAS, The California Firefighters Memorial is maintained by the California Fire Foundation to ensure that it continues to be a symbol of gratitude and appreciation to the men and women of the fire service who put their lives on the line each day to protect the people, property, and beauty of California; and
WHEREAS, Each of the over 1,400 names engraved on the brushed limestone walls of the California Firefighters Memorial serves as a timeless tribute to the finest and bravest of our state who have made the ultimate sacrifice as firefighters; and
WHEREAS, The California Firefighters Memorial is the only state monument capturing the names in perpetuity of those courageous firefighters in California who have put service to our great State of California above all else; and
WHEREAS, The California Fire Foundation is embarking on an important effort to expand the California Firefighters Memorial to preserve and continue the everlasting tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our great state; and
WHEREAS, To ensure that Californians can continue to honor the brave professionals who keep our communities safe, it is imperative that ample, respectful space remain available at the California Firefighters Memorial site for the inscription of the names of future fallen firefighters; and
WHEREAS, The California Firefighters Memorial must be modified to include a new wall that is sufficient in size to inscribe the names of the fallen for decades to come. These names are currently listed chronologically and include the name of the department where the firefighter served; and
WHEREAS, The design, construction, and maintenance of the California Firefighters Memorial is financed entirely by donations made to the California Fire Foundation. Historically, donations include those made by firefighters through the purchase of the special Firefighter License Plate and funds generated by Californians through a special state income tax checkoff; and
WHEREAS, Many of the fallen firefighters whose names adorn the California Firefighters Memorial died either under tragic, traumatic circumstances or suffered and ultimately succumbed to job-caused diseases, such as occupational cancer, as a result of the hazardous nature of their work, including routine exposure to toxins; and
WHEREAS, Firefighters continue to battle the COVID-19 virus on the front lines, again demonstrating their commitment to service above self in the face of increased health and safety risks for themselves and their families; and
WHEREAS, This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the California Firefighters Memorial. The California Firefighters Memorial Ceremony will be held on Saturday, July 30, 2022, in the City of Sacramento to commemorate the line-of-duty service and sacrifice of nearly 90 California fire service professionals from 2020, 2021, and 2022, after a two-year ceremony hiatus due to the ongoing pandemic; and
WHEREAS, As it did when the California Firefighters Memorial was formally unveiled over two decades ago on April 6, 2002, this year’s ceremony will feature a solemn, uniformed personnel procession. State and local elected officials and other dignitaries, as well as hundreds of Californians, family members, and friends of fallen firefighters, will travel to the City of Sacramento to honor their lost loved ones; and
WHEREAS, California firefighters respond to approximately 3,000,000 incidents across the state each year and the scope of their work goes beyond fighting fires. They also provide emergency medical services and respond to natural disasters, hazardous materials incidents, water rescue emergencies, high-angle and confined space emergencies, and other general public service calls; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims the month of July 2022 as California Firefighter Appreciation Month and July 30, 2022, as California Firefighters Memorial Day; and be it further
Resolved, That Californians are urged to always remember the firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty and express their appreciation to those firefighters who continue to protect our families; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
