Governor Dayton Orders Flags Flown at Half-Staff in Observation of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service
ST. PAUL – In honor of firefighters who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty, Governor Mark Dayton has ordered all United States flags and Minnesota flags be flown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings in the State of Minnesota, from sunrise until sunset on Sunday, September 24, 2017.
About Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day
On October 16, 2001, President George W. Bush signed legislation requiring that the United States flag be lowered to half-staff on all federal buildings to memorialize fallen firefighters. Minnesota Senate File 237 was unanimously passed by the Legislature and signed into law on May 15, 2009, creating Minnesota Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day.
The Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association, the Minnesota State Fire Department Association, and the Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters support this act of recognition and believe it honors their goal of bringing every firefighter home safely at the end of every shift.
Read more about the MN Fallen Firefighters Memorial at www.mnfireservicefoundation.org
The Governor’s proclmation reads as follows:
WHEREAS: On October 16, 2001, President George W. Bush signed legislation requiring that United States flags be lowered to half-staff at all federal buildings to memorialize fallen firefighters; and
WHEREAS: Public law 107-51 requires this action to occur annually, in conjunction with the observance of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service; and
WHEREAS: Minnesota Senate File 237 was unanimously passed by the Minnesota legislature and signed into law on May 15, 2009, creating Minnesota Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day; and
WHEREAS: The Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association, Minnesota State Fire Department Association, and Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters Association support this act of recognition and believe it honors their goal of bringing every firefighter home safely at the end of every shift; and
WHEREAS: On average, nearly 90 firefighters make the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty each year in the United States; and
WHEREAS: Every day, the volunteer, paid-on-call, and career firefighters in nearly 800 Minnesota fire departments protect the lives and property of our citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, MARK DAYTON, Governor of Minnesota, do hereby proclaim Sunday, September 24, 2017, as “MINNESOTA FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL DAY” in the State of Minnesota, and do hereby order all United States flags and Minnesota flags be flown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings in the State of Minnesota, from sunrise until sunset on Sunday, September 24, 2017, in honor of firefighters who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty.