A day to honor our Public Safety Team

Posted 5/14/15

To the Editor:

Recently in New York City another young outstanding police officer violently lost his life while in the performance of his duty. Today our law enforcement members are under duress …

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A day to honor our Public Safety Team

Posted

To the Editor:

Recently in New York City another young outstanding police officer violently lost his life while in the performance of his duty. Today our law enforcement members are under duress and are constantly coming under criticism by many in government, media, and public sentiment.

There is a need to honor all the men and women who daily serve and protect us from most serious hazardous incidents and make our lives safer and worthwhile. They are the members of our Law Enforcement agencies and our Fire Service personnel, our Public Safety Team. Let us show our respect and trust by honoring them with a single national Day of Appreciation

Yearly an average of over 200 combined have died from service related incidents and approximately 100,000 sustained injuries many critical. They are required to protect us and our property from most forms of bodily harm and serious property damage.

Nationally we have not set aside a single day to show our appreciation. Rhode Island has become the first state in the nation to set aside a single day to honor them on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, through resolutions in both bodies of our General Assembly. The Senate Resolution is #142, S0689 and the House Resolution is #114 H5825. Both versions have the same wording and can be viewed on (webserver.rilin.state.ri.

us).

The reason that March 17, St. Patrick’s Day was chosen is that it is celebrated nationally but is not a national holiday. Our current economy cannot support a new day off. On this day many of our brave men and women in Law Enforcement and the Fire Service will be marching in full uniforms in parades throughout our country. In the early formation of both services Irish Americans made up a large percent of the total enrollment. The Emerald Society’s marching pipe and drum band made up of Irish Americans officers of either the local Police or Fire Department have the high distinct honor of leading the funeral procession of fallen officers who have died in the line of duty with their sad cadence of drums and pipes.

The Irish will certainly be glad to share their day with all as many of their own sons and daughters serve with distinction in both services. This day is to honor all active, retired, and deceased members. The day should be celebrated with both solemnity and celebration and St. Patrick’s certainly fits the bill.

Bob Sweeney,

President,

RES Associates,

Warwick

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