09/17/2002 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Dear Council, I appreciate you taking time to re-look at our resolution regarding September 11~'. No one argues the appreciation we all feel for our safety forces. I attended the program put on by our department on September I lth and it was quite impressive and I know our departments wanted that ceremony very badly. I had several problems with the wording when this council was declaring September 11t1' of not only this year but of all future years, North Olmsted Safety Forces Appreciation Day. We appreciate our safety forces every day. I believe we show greater respect for our forces by renewing our commitment each year as is done with resolutions and proclamations regarding Pearl Harbor Day. I went to the North Olmsted Branch of the Cuyahoga County Library. I received considerable help from several librarians. To the best of our combined research we found Pearl Harbor Day is recognized by the Federal Government and State Governments by resolutions and proclamations each year not a one time act for all time. (Please note the references in the 1966 proclamation from President Johnson and the 2001 proclamation from President Bush. Also note that our current president suggested in his 2001 proclamation that September 11~' be handled in much the same way as Pearl Harbor Day. ) I have also attached a listing of Federal Holidays that occur each year and Pearl Harbor Day is not listed on it. For balance I have also included pages from the Internet from a James Castle were he states, Pearl Harbor Day should be recognized and taught every year with appropriate exercises by teachers to students but he is not government. God forbid, but in our war on terrorism September 11`~ 2001 may not be our greatest day of sacrifice for our citizens and safety forces. No one remember September 8~' when we Lost over 6,000 Americans in the city of Galveston, Texas about 100 years ago. (Estimates run to actually as high as 10,000 lives lost. } How many were safety forces? Few people know of the true great fire when Chicago burned. On that very day of the Great Chicago fire another fire burned in the west killing far more than died in Chicago. We Americans are a loving and emotional people. We are not always educated. I fully recognize the need our nation has for healing but I also recognize the need for education. Less we not forget what September 11 ° 2001 was all about we should commemorate it each year as we do with Pearl Harbor Day. If we only proclaim it once so it will not "be forgotten", I guarantee if the day is then not forgotten the meaning will most assuredly be forgotten. I respe~fully ask council to reconsider. ~`, Jam` ` ~,