WHEREAS, first responders include firefighters, police officers, nurses, paramedics, emergency medical services personnel, 911 dispatchers, search and rescue teams, and members of other organizations in the public safety sector; and

WHEREAS, on this day 23 years ago, our Nation experienced the deadliest terrorist attack in its history, when terrorists hijacked four civilian aircraft and crashed two of them into the World Trade Center in New York, one into the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., and a fourth crashed in southwestern Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to regain control of the aircraft from the hijackers and successfully managed to keep the plane from crashing into our Nation’s Capital; and

WHEREAS, during one of our Nation’s most shocking and difficult times, first responders rushed directly to the scenes of the attacks, risking their lives while displaying incredible bravery and heroism to help as many people as possible; and

WHEREAS, 2,977 innocent lives were lost on September 11, 2001, including 6 Maine residents, 343 firefighters and 72 law enforcement officers; and

WHEREAS, on October 25th, 2023, our state experienced its worst mass casualty incident in Lewiston, where 18 innocent victims lost their lives and 13 more were injured; and

WHEREAS, in our most trying time, first responders rushed to the scenes of the crime to assist victims and find the perpetrator; and

WHEREAS, on that day and every day, Maine’s first responders risk their lives in order to protect us, serving as our first defense against emergencies that threaten our communities; and

WHEREAS, on this day, we should honor Maine and the Nation’s brave, selfless, and compassionate heroes who save countless lives every day and pay tribute to those who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty; and

WHEREAS, in accordance with 1 MRSA §150-P, the State of Maine observes First Responders Day on September 11 each year;

NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim September 11, 2024 as

First Responders Day

in Maine, and I urge all citizens to honor the tremendous sacrifices our first responders make in order to protect us all.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this fourth day of September Two Thousand Twenty-Four