WHEREAS, Charles Caleb Colton once remarked that "There are three modes of bearing the ills of life: by indifference, by philosophy, and by religion." There is, in truth, at least one additional method of coping with adversity: learning through personal experience and having the courage and compassion to pass that knowledge on in the hope that awareness may help others avoid similar misfortunes; and

WHEREAS, Three tragic drownings in the City of Warwick over the past few years have served as the impetus for the creation of Warwick Citizens for Public Safety, an organization dedicated to preventing future heartache and death by educating Warwick residents to a heightened cognizance of public safety; and

WHEREAS, On April 24, 1997, at Pilgrim High School, Warwick Citizens for Public safety will present a series of informational workshops on such topics as: Light, Locks, Alarms; Crime Watch; Water and Boating Safety; Injury Prevention for Children; and, will provide Ident-A-Kid Kits to concerned parents. This invaluable data, provided by the Warwick Police Department, the Warwick Fire Department and the Rhode Island Department of Health - Injury Prevention, is directed at bringing area neighbors together and involving them in making Warwick a safer place to live; and

WHEREAS, Through the use of films, literature and suggested drills, Warwick Citizens for Public Safety hopes to educate children and adults concerning the potential dangers they may encounter each and every day and how best to safeguard themselves, their families and their neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, Warwick Citizens for Public Safety is also sponsoring a poster contest with students in grades 1-6 to further increase awareness and concern for public safety. This House of Representatives applauds all of these sterling efforts, and wholeheartedly encourages everyone to become more involved in making all of our communities safer places to live; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is hereby pleased and proud to pledge itself to the vital cause of promoting greater public safety awareness throughout the Ocean State, and is particularly eager to assist Warwick Citizens for Public Safety by proclaiming April 24, 1997 as "PUBLIC SAFETY AWARENESS DAY IN THE CITY OF WARWICK."; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Mary E. Martini and Barbara K. Gautieri, founders of Warwick Citizens for Public Safety.