Bill Text: NJ SR127 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes moment of remembrance on September 11, 2011.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2011-08-25 - Filed with Secretary of State [SR127 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-SR127-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator DONALD NORCROSS
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Senator KEVIN J. O'TOOLE
District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes moment of remembrance on September 11, 2011.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution designating September 11, 2011 as a day of solemn commemoration and encouraging the observance of a moment of remembrance.
Whereas, On September 11, 2001, at 8:46 a.m., American Airline Flight 11 crashed into the upper portion of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, and 17 minutes later, at 9:03 a.m., United Airline Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City; and
Whereas, Later that morning, American Airlines Flight 77 struck the west wall of the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m., the impact of which caused immediate and catastrophic damage to the headquarters of the Department of Defense; and
Whereas, At approximately 10:00 a.m., the passengers and crew of hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 acted heroically to retake control of the airplane and thwart the taking of additional American lives by crashing the airliner in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and, in doing so, gave their lives to save countless others; and
Whereas, Nearly 3,000 innocent civilians were killed in the heinous attacks on September 11, 2001, and thousands of individuals narrowly escaped the attacks at the Pentagon and World Trade Center and, as witnesses to this tragedy, are forever changed; and
Whereas, Countless fire departments, police departments, first responders, government officials, emergency medical personnel, and volunteers responded immediately and heroically to those horrific events; and
Whereas, The Fire Department of New York suffered 343 fatalities on September 11, 2001, the largest loss of life of any emergency response agency in United States history; and
Whereas, The New York Police Department suffered 23 fatalities as a result of the terrorist attacks, and the Port Authority Police Department suffered 37 fatalities in the attacks, the largest loss of life of any police force in the United States history in a single day; and
Whereas, The impact of that day on public health continues through 2011, as nearly 90,000 people are at risk of or suffering from negative health effects as a result of the events of September 11, 2001, including 14,000 workers and 2,400 community residents who are sick, and tens of thousands of others whose health is being monitored; and
Whereas, A decade later, thousands of men and women in the United States Armed Forces remain in harm's way defending this country against those who seek to threaten the United States; and
Whereas, In December 2001, and each year thereafter, the President has issued an official proclamation designating September 11 as Patriot Day; and
Whereas, In 2009, Congress and the President joined
together to
designate September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance under the
Serve America Act; and
Whereas, On the 10th anniversary of this tragic day, the thoughts of the people of the United States are with all of the victims of the events of September 11, 2001, and their families; and
Whereas, September 11 will never be just another day in the hearts and minds of all people of the United States; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House designates September 11, 2011 as a day of solemn commemoration, and:
a. Offers the deepest and most sincere condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the innocent victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks;
b. Honors the heroic service, actions, and sacrifices of first responders, law enforcement personnel, State and local officials, volunteers, and countless others who aided the innocent victims of those attacks and, in doing so, bravely risked and often gave their own lives;
c. Recognizes the valiant service, actions and sacrifices of the United States personnel, including members of the United States Armed Forces, the United States intelligence agencies, the United States diplomatic service, homeland security and law enforcement personnel, and their families, who have given so much, including their lives and well-being, to support the cause of freedom and defend the security of the United States; and
d. Reaffirms that the citizens of New Jersey will never forget the challenges our country endured on and since September 11, 2001, and will work tirelessly to defeat those who attacked the United States.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to issue a proclamation calling upon all of the people of New Jersey, as well as the public and private institutions of this State to observe a moment of remembrance on September 11, 2011, and encourage the observance of that moment of remembrance to last for one minute beginning at 1:00 p.m. and lasting until the maximum extent practicable by ceasing all work or other activity, and marking the moment with appropriate activities including ringing bells, blowing whistles, or sounding sirens.
STATEMENT
This resolution designates September 11, 2011 as a day of solemn commemoration. The resolution requests that the Governor issue a proclamation calling upon all of the people, as well as the public and private institutions of New Jersey, to observe a moment of remembrance on September 11, 2011 to last for one minute beginning at 1:00 p.m., and lasting until the maximum extent practicable by ceasing all work or other activity, and marking the moment with appropriate activities including ringing bells, blowing whistles, or sounding sirens.
