No. 40
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator PARKER SPACE
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
Senator CARMEN F. AMATO, JR.
District 9 (Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Designates first Sunday in May of each year as "Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
A Joint Resolution designating the first Sunday in May of each year as “Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day.”
Whereas, Firefighters play an essential role in the protection of lives and property in our State; and
Whereas, Firefighters respond to emergency calls without reservation and with little regard for their personal safety; and
Whereas, There are more than 35,000 men and women serving as volunteer and career firefighters in New Jersey; and
Whereas, In New Jersey, between 1990 and 2024, approximately 145 on-duty firefighter fatalities were reported; and
Whereas, The first Sunday in May is National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day; and
Whereas, Annually, on National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day, the United States Congress and the President of the United States honor firefighters who have sacrificed their lives to save others by flying the American flag on all federal buildings at half-staff; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper to designate the first Sunday in May of each year as, “Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day” in the State of New Jersey; and
Whereas, Annually, on National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day, the Governor should call upon all State and local government agencies to fly the flag of the United States and the State flag at half-staff in honor of the volunteer and career firefighters who courageously made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The first Sunday in May of each year is designated as “Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day” in the State of New Jersey to honor the volunteer and career firefighters who courageously made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
2. The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs.
3. All State and local government agencies are urged to fly the flags of the United States and the State of New Jersey at half-staff in honor of all the volunteer and career firefighters who have died in the line of duty.
4. This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates the first Sunday in May of each year as “Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day” to honor the volunteer and career firefighters who courageously made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
There are more than 35,000 men and women serving as volunteer and career firefighters in New Jersey. They play an essential role in the protection of lives and property in our State. They respond to emergency calls without reservation and with little regard for their personal safety. Between 1990 and 2024, approximately 145 on-duty firefighter fatalities were reported in this State.
Annually, on National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day, the United States Congress and the President of the United States honor firefighters who have lost their lives by flying the American flag on all federal buildings at half-staff. Under this joint resolution, the Governor will direct all State and local government agencies to fly the flag of the United States and the State flag at half-staff in honor of all the volunteer and career firefighters who have died in the line of duty.