Lowering the U.S. Flag in Observance of Fallen Firefighters / Fire Prevention Week Oct 5th - 11th

Did you know that the law requires the U.S. flag be lowered in tribute on only a few days each year? Quite appropriately, one of these days is the observance of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.

 

On October 16, 2001, President George W. Bush approved legislation requiring the U.S. flag to be lowered to half-staff on all Federal buildings to memorialize fallen firefighters. Public Law 107-51 requires this action to occur annually in conjunction with observance of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.

Let your local media know that U.S. flags across the country will be lowered on Sunday, October 5, 2008. This includes the U.S. Capitol and the White House, as well as buildings in your local community.

Remember to lower the U.S. flags at your home, fire department, and business. Encourage your local community to follow the Federal Government's example. When you lower your flag this year, you will recognize the brave men and women who died protecting their communities from natural and man made emergencies and disasters and those who carry on the proud tradition.

You may also want to ask your state and local officials to include lowering the flag in a proclamation recognizing the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.

This event starts off Fire Prevention Week where Local Fire Depts all over the country visit schools and pass out information on fire safety. Please help by taking some time during one evening this week and go over a fire escape plan with your families.

You can find information at the National Fire Protection Assn. website at http://www.nfpa.org/ . You can also contact your local fire dept for information. Public fire departments responded to 1,557,500 fires in the U.S. in 2007.

Using the tips and tools from the NFPA will help reduce your chance of being one of the 2008 statistics.