H*3575 Concurrent Resolution, By Hiott, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, 
Arrington, Atkinson, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, 
Bedingfield, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bowers, Bradley, Brown, Burns, 
Caskey, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Cole, Collins, 
Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Davis, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Duckworth, Elliott, 
Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliard, 
Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, 
Hill, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, King, Kirby, 
Knight, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, McCoy, McCravy, 
McEachern, McKnight, Mitchell, D.C. Moss, V.S. Moss, Murphy, Neal, B. Newton, 
W. Newton, Norman, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Quinn, Ridgeway, 
M. Rivers, S. Rivers, Robinson-Simpson, Rutherford, Ryhal, Sandifer, Simrill, 
G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, J.E. Smith, Sottile, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, 
Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Thigpen, Toole, Weeks, West, Wheeler, Whipper, White, 
Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Yow
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE THE VITAL ROLE OF FIRST RESPONDERS
 THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND TO PROCLAIM THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 2017, AS "SOUTH
 CAROLINA FIRST RESPONDER PRAYER AND APPRECIATION DAY" AND THE FIRST WEEK IN
 AUGUST 2017 AS "SOUTH CAROLINA FIRST RESPONDER PRAYER AND APPRECIATION WEEK"
 IN SOUTH CAROLINA, BRINGING AWARENESS, PRAYER, AND APPRECIATION FOR THE MEN
 AND WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO STAND IN THE GAP EVERY DAY PROVIDING CIVILITY
 AND SAFETY TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

   01/25/17  House  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 12)
   01/26/17  Senate Introduced (Senate Journal-page 8)
   01/26/17  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (Senate Journal-page 8)
   03/16/17  Senate Recalled from Committee on Judiciary
                     (Senate Journal-page 4)
   03/16/17  Senate Adopted, returned to House with concurrence
                     (Senate Journal-page 4)

TO RECOGNIZE THE VITAL ROLE OF FIRST RESPONDERS THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND TO PROCLAIM THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 2017, AS "SOUTH CAROLINA FIRST RESPONDER PRAYER AND APPRECIATION DAY" AND THE FIRST WEEK IN AUGUST 2017 AS "SOUTH CAROLINA FIRST RESPONDER PRAYER AND APPRECIATION WEEK" IN SOUTH CAROLINA, BRINGING AWARENESS, PRAYER, AND APPRECIATION FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO STAND IN THE GAP EVERY DAY PROVIDING CIVILITY AND SAFETY TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

Whereas, the role of the local first responder in sheriff, fire, and police departments and emergency medical services is vital to the civility and overall safety of any community; and

Whereas, local first responders, who are our neighbors and friends, are placed in unsettling situations, where often they must make split-second decisions for the lives of those around them, and they are often placed in harm's way; and

Whereas, from our nation's conception dating back to the Declaration of Independence, the country gained great strength, comfort, and resolve in prayer as they "appealed to the Supreme Judge of the World"; and

Whereas, throughout our nation's history, from presidents to citizens, prayer has always been, and still is, a great source of strength, protection, and comfort for those in need; and

Whereas, the need for widespread prayer and appreciation for our first responders presents a responsibility incumbent on those who enjoy their protection, and participation in prayer provides encouragement, unity, and humility that build strong communities; and

Whereas, recognizing that prayer invites God's hand of protection and provision, the General Assembly calls churches and other civic organizations to support their local first responders through prayer and appreciation during South Carolina First Responder Prayer and Appreciation Week, and the members invite citizens across the Palmetto State to celebrate and encourage public servants who serve as first responders with words of affirmation. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize the vital role of first responders throughout our State and proclaim Thursday, August 3, 2017, as "South Carolina First Responder Prayer and Appreciation Day" and the first week in August 2017 as "South Carolina First Responder Prayer and Appreciation Week" in South Carolina, bringing awareness, prayer, and appreciation for the men and women and their families who stand in the gap every day providing civility and safety to our communities.