HR 14 — A Resolution designating April 12, 2025, as "Volunteer Firefighter Day" in Pennsylvania to honor the brave men and women who make sacrifices to protect their community as volunteer firefighters.

PRINTER'S NO.   222

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 14
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY BENNINGHOFF, BANTA, BOROWSKI, BRENNAN, CIRESI,
        DALEY, FREEMAN, GALLAGHER, GILLEN, GREINER, HAMM, JAMES,
        KENYATTA, KHAN, LABS, M. MACKENZIE, MARCELL, McNEILL,
        MENTZER, NEILSON, PICKETT, POWELL, PROBST, REICHARD, ROWE,
        SCHMITT, STAATS, TWARDZIK, VENKAT, VITALI, ZIMMERMAN, KOZAK,
        MADDEN AND HADDOCK, JANUARY 22, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
        PREPAREDNESS, JANUARY 22, 2025


                                 A RESOLUTION
 1   Designating April 12, 2025, as "Volunteer Firefighter Day" in
 2      Pennsylvania to honor the brave men and women who make
 3      sacrifices to protect their community as volunteer
 4      firefighters.
 5      WHEREAS, Volunteer firefighters hear the fire alarm at any
 6   hour of the day or night and rush from their homes to fight a
 7   house fire, save passengers in a car accident or aid in other
 8   emergency situations; and
 9      WHEREAS, Volunteer firefighters have witnessed deep tragedy
10   but also joy and relief when they have protected someone from
11   harm; and
12      WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has a rich history in volunteer
13   firefighting; and
14      WHEREAS, Benjamin Franklin formed the first volunteer
15   firefighting force, called the Union Fire Company, in 1736 and
16   served as America's first volunteer fire chief; and
 1      WHEREAS, In 1820, Marina Betts became the first recorded
 2   female volunteer firefighter in Pittsburgh, and volunteered for
 3   almost 20 years according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review; and
 4      WHEREAS, The number of volunteer firefighters in this
 5   Commonwealth is between 36,000 and 38,000, but that number has
 6   dropped from 300,000 in 1975; and
 7      WHEREAS, This Commonwealth must find ways to promote
 8   volunteer firefighting, especially in our rural communities;
 9   therefore be it
10      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate April
11   12, 2025, as "Volunteer Firefighter Day" in Pennsylvania to
12   honor the brave men and women who make sacrifices to protect
13   their communities as volunteer firefighters.




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