WHEREAS, The California Firefighters Memorial, located on the grounds of the State Capitol, serves to honor and commemorate California firefighters who unwaveringly paid the ultimate price to serve our great state with pride, courage, and honor; and

WHEREAS, Since it was conceived by the California Professional Firefighters more than two decades ago and built through the nonprofit California Fire Foundation, the California Firefighters Memorial has been hallowed ground for the families of our state’s fallen heroes and their brothers and sisters in the fire service; and

WHEREAS, The California Firefighters Memorial is also a symbol of gratitude and appreciation to the men and women who put their lives on the line each day to protect the people, property, and beauty of California; and

WHEREAS, Each of the more than 1,300 names engraved on the brushed limestone walls of the California Firefighters Memorial serves as a timeless tribute to the finest and bravest of California who have made the ultimate sacrifice as firefighters; and

WHEREAS, Many of the fallen firefighters whose names are etched into the Memorial Wall suffered and ultimately succumbed to diseases, such as occupational cancer, as a result of the hazardous nature of their work; and

WHEREAS, For countless Americans, the month of September calls to mind the image of hundreds of firefighters selflessly rushing into the doomed Twin Towers of the World Trade Center during the attacks of September 11, 2001, and the memory of 343 firefighters who lost their lives that day while trying to save the lives of thousands; and

WHEREAS, On September 30, 2017, hundreds of firefighters and their families from throughout the state will gather in Sacramento with their fellow Californians for the 15th Annual California Firefighters Memorial Ceremony to honor the men and women of the fire service who have unselfishly given their lives in service to and for the protection of California; now, therefore, be it