2013 -- S 0302

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LC01439

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING PROFOUND SYMPATHIES ON THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE

STATION NIGHT CLUB FIRE

     Introduced By: Senators Satchell, Paiva Weed, Raptakis, Felag, and Miller

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2013

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, The Station Night Club fire, one of the most devastating events in the

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history of this state, began at approximately 11 o’clock on the evening of February 20th of 2003. 

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Ten years later, the impact of those tragic events is still palpable; and

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     WHEREAS, One hundred people lost their lives on that evening.  Two hundred thirty

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people were physically injured and one hundred thirty-two others, although they escaped physical

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injury, still bear the mental scars caused by what became a national tragedy; and

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     WHEREAS, For the families of the deceased and injured and those who escaped, for the

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crowds that flocked to the site that night and in the following days, and for the people of the

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Town of West Warwick, life would never be the same.  This tragedy reached across town borders

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and state boundaries, and struck at the heart of our nation; and

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     WHEREAS, Through these events, one must hope that valuable lessons have been

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learned.  As a state, we have worked diligently to upgrade safety protocols in all public places

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and to make property owners accountable for non-compliance.  More importantly, the greatest

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lesson that this tragedy should teach us is to value our own lives and those of our loved ones

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because surely, we were irrevocably shown just how fragile life can be; and

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     WHEREAS, For the families of the victims and survivors and for the survivors

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themselves, we can only hope that in the past ten years they have been able to find some measure

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of peace; and

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     WHEREAS, We also hope that the creation of a permanent memorial will serve as a

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place to reflect upon this tragedy and will bring some peace to grieving family and friends, as

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well as to the one hundred souls who lost their lives on that cold February night in West

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Warwick; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby wishes to acknowledge the ten year anniversary of the Station Night Club Fire. We hope

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and pray that remembrance of this day will provide some comfort and peace to all who were

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affected by this tragedy today, next week on the 10th year anniversary, and in the years to come.

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LC01439

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