WHEREAS, fire constitutes one of our greatest hazards and is the killer of thousands annually, many of whom are innocent victims ; and
WHEREAS, this annual loss of life and property is not only detrimental to the communities in which they occur, but often cause needless grief and human suffering ; and
WHEREAS, through proper education and training we must insist on a continuing program to eliminate those hazards which bring great catastrophies and make necessary that more of our citizens become interested in a year-round preventive program which will overcome our deficiencies ; and
WHEREAS, through the establishment of a State Fire Marshal, we now have the means in Delaware for a coordinated, continuous and constructive program in the field of prevention ; and
WHEREAS, our volunteer and paid firemen still perform heroically when occasion warrants, but need the moral support and the undivided attention of all citizens in order to reduce fires in the months ahead ;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, J. Caleb Boggs, Governor of the State of Delaware, do hereby declare that the week of October 3 to 9, 1954, be widely observed in the First State as
I strongly urge that all of our state agencies; fire companies, both volunteer and paid ; our Delaware Safety Council ; the Fire Marshal's office ; the Departments of Education in the state and all others who can reach our citizens at the local level stress fire
prevention and assist in showing the way to proper methods which will ensure elimination of existing hazards.
We also urge that our local Civil Defense authorities, civic organizations and those interested in the general welfare, join in making our fire prevention program a year-round effort, reaching all citizens, so that we may face the future with the knowledge that our earnest warnings will be heeded and that death and destruction need not hinder our normal paths of progress.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, J. Caleb Boggs, Governor of the State of Delaware, have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the said State to be hereunto affixed, at Dover, this Twenty-
(Great Seal) seventh day of September in the year of Our Lord One thousand nine hundred and fifty-four and of the Independence of the United States of America, the One hundred and seventy-ninth.