DALLAS FIRE-RESCUE

Contact: Lt. Doug Dickerson

Office: 214-670-7949 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pager: 214-670-4115, pin # 9885

Mayor Laura Miller and Dallas Fire-Rescue to Welcome New York City Firefighters

Date: March 1, 2002

Time: 5:00 p.m.

Location: Dodd J. Miller, Jr. Fire Training and Maintenance Center

5000 Dolphin Road (MAPSCO 47J)

Details: Dallas Mayor Laura Miller, the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau and Dallas Fire-Rescue will welcome two New York City firefighters to Dallas this weekend in a joint effort with the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Robert Reeg, a 20-year veteran, and Edward Kennedy, a 17-year veteran, both New York City firefighters from Engine 44, will arrive at D/FW Airport Friday morning, where they will be met by city representatives. The Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau have a fun-filled weekend of activities planned for the firefighters, which includes visiting local attractions, getting fitted for cowboy hats, enjoying some Texas BBQ and Tex-Mex meals, and attending the Dallas Mavericks basketball game Saturday evening after meeting owner Mark Cuban.

Starting at 4:00 p.m., the NYC firefighters will meet Dallas firefighters and be given a tour of the Dallas Fire-Rescue training facility. Dallas Mayor Laura Miller will officially welcome them in a ceremony scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. The welcome ceremony will take place on the grounds of the fire training facility, in front of the Dallas Fallen Firefighters Monument.

Mayor Miller will present the NYC firefighters with Honorary Dallas Citizenship and two flags that were flying over the Texas State Capitol on September 11^th. Dallas firefighters from Engine 44, their sister company, will also be at the welcome ceremony to present gifts to the NYC firefighters on behalf of Dallas Fire-Rescue.

This weekend’s trip is one of 200 for which U.S cities serve as hosts to visiting NYC firefighters. The U.S. Conference of Mayors initiated this program as a way to honor NYC firefighters for their efforts on September 11^th and to promote travel and tourism across the country. More information on the program itself and a list of the participating cities can be found at www.usmayors.org.

###