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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | November 19, 2013 05:32 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Maria P. Donatucci |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Resolution recognizing the Philadelphia Fire Department for 277 continuous years of providing fire protection and countless acts of bravery and heroism in serving the people and visitors of the City of Brotherly Love |
| In the near future I plan to introduce a resolution recognizing the Philadelphia Fire Department upon its 277th anniversary of its founding on December 7, 1736. The department had a noble start when Benjamin Franklin brought a group of 30 men together to form the Union Fire Company; Philadelphia’s first organized volunteer firefighting company. Efforts of Franklin and his Union Fire Company cohorts inspired other men to form their own companies within the city which within a short span of time brought about the formation of the Heart-in-Hand, the Britannia, the Fellowship and other fire companies. That work coupled with the matchless leadership of Benjamin Franklin helped cause Philadelphia to quickly become one of the world’s safest cities in terms of fire damage. In the late 1860s, city officials spoke of transforming the volunteer service that had provided great protection into a professional fire department to meet the ever growing needs of an expanding city stepping into an industrial age. In December 1870, a council meeting took place that included approval of an ordinance to establish a professional fire department, bringing forth the birth of the current Philadelphia Fire Department. This December will mark the 143rd anniversary of that formal creation. Through the years, the department has provided outstanding and dedicated service to its residents and visitors and its firefighters have shown in countless ways their bravery and heroism in protecting life and property. The resolution will more specifically recognize the department for its work and service both more recently and over the years. It also will honor and recognize the sacrifices of the department in protecting life and property, including the loss of firefighters Robert P. Neary and Daniel Sweeney in 2012 and Battalion Chief Michael Goodwin in 2013. Lastly, it will congratulate Firefighter Brandon Mlodzinski for being named by the selection committee from Fireman’s Hall as the 2013 Firefighter of the Year. I hope you will join me in sponsoring and supporting this resolution. |
Introduced as HR577