By: Springer H.R. No. 1555
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, First Responder Legislative Day is taking place at
the State Capitol on March 25, 2015, and this occasion provides an
opportunity to reflect on the courageous efforts of these admirable
public servants; and
WHEREAS, The second-oldest monument on the grounds of the
State Capitol is the Volunteer Firemen memorial, and it serves as a
moving tribute to the valorous service of all firefighters and
other emergency response personnel; erected by the State Firemen's
Association of Texas in 1896, the bronze statue portrays a fireman
carrying a frightened child in his left arm while holding a lantern
in his right hand; and
WHEREAS, The granite base of the monument is inscribed with
the names of Texas volunteer firefighters who lost their lives in
the line of duty, and on this day, 21 fallen heroes are being added
to the list: Chief Charles "Ted" Richardson of the Alvarado
Volunteer Fire Department, Gregory Mack Simmons of the Eastland
Fire Department, Elias Macias Jaquez of the Cactus Fire Department,
Larry Gale Nelson of the Val Verde County Rural Volunteer Fire
Department, Matt Waller of the Memphis Fire Department, Mark
Shepherd of the Rosehill Volunteer Fire Department, William Richard
"Dick" Danes of the Brazos County Precinct 3 Fire Department,
Captain Neal Wade Smith of the Atascocita Volunteer Fire
Department, Jalen Smith of the Jackson Heights Volunteer Fire
Department, Assistant Chief David Fox of the Bluebonnet Volunteer
Fire Department, Donald Mize of the League City Volunteer Fire
Department, Jerry Chapman and Captain Cyrus Reed of the Abbott
Volunteer Fire Department, Kevin Sanders of the Bruceville-Eddy
Volunteer Fire Department, Perry Calvin of the Martens Volunteer
Fire Department, Morris Bridges, Cody Dragoo, Joseph Pustejovsky,
Captain Douglas
Snokhous, and Captain Robert Snokhous of the West
Volunteer Fire Department, and Chief Hugh Ferguson of the Damon
Volunteer Fire Department; and
WHEREAS, Every hour of every day, the first responders of
Texas stand ready to come to the aid of their fellow citizens, and
these dedicated men and women are truly deserving of our heartfelt
praise and gratitude; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate First Responder Legislative Day at
the State Capitol and pay tribute to the service of the first
responders of Texas, both past and present.