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Regular Session, 2011 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 45
BY SENATOR MURRAY
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To welcome fire fighters from Belgium and members of the Belgium Fire Observers
Organization to Louisiana; to acknowledge the bravery, strength, selflessness,
courage, and true heroism of all fire fighters; to thank these visiting fire fighters for
choosing the New Orleans Fire Department and Louisiana to visit and not only to
learn but to share their knowledge and experiences with us; and to thank all fire
fighters for the bravery and courage they exhibit on a daily basis, never faltering
from the oath and duties they have undertaken.
WHEREAS, Engineer Carl Verstrepen, Battalion Chief Mark Opstal, Fire Fighter
Serge De Bussere, Captain Eddy Depauw, Fire Fighter Stefan Bonne, Lieutenant Jeroen
Bollemeijer, Battalion Chief Patrick Wallaert, Fire Fighter Eric Cloot, Engineer Johan Van
De Voorde and Lieutenant Sylvain Van Teemsche, all members of the Belgium Fire
Department are visiting Louisiana to observe operating procedures and fire fighting
techniques of the New Orleans Fire Department; and
WHEREAS, this group of Belgium fire fighters is part of the Belgium Fire Observers
Organization in which members visit major fire departments throughout the United States
several times each year; and
WHEREAS, this group of Belgium fire fighters are present today in the State Capital
in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to observe the Louisiana legislative process, as part of their visit;
and
WHEREAS, while visiting fire departments around the country, these fire fighters
spend time with their brother and sister fire fighters meeting, observing, learning, and
gathering information, skills, techniques, and knowledge of operations of our fire
departments here in the United States; and SCR NO. 45 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, these brave men from Belgium will ride along with their colleagues,
observing their ways of operation, taking a closer look at their equipment, studying their
methods of response, and share experiences as to how things are different and/or similar to
the way they are done in Europe; and
WHEREAS, these fire fighters from Belgium are not only learning from our fire
departments but also sharing their knowledge and experience with our fire fighters,
providing an opportunity not only to learn from us but also teach us some of their operational
skills and knowledge; and
WHEREAS, this visit from the Belgium fire fighters only goes to prove the
exceptional and strong bond and comradery the brotherhood/sisterhood of fire fighters all
over the world share between each other.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana hereby
welcomes these brave fire fighters from Belgium and members of the Belgium Fire
Observers Organization to Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana acknowledges the
bravery, strength, selflessness, courage, and true heroism of all fire fighters all over the
world.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana thanks these
visiting fire fighters for choosing the New Orleans Fire Department and Louisiana to visit
and not only to learn but to share their knowledge and experiences with us.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana thanks all fire
fighters across the country and throughout the world for the bravery and courage they exhibit
on a daily basis, never faltering from the oath and duties they have undertaken.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES