On Oct. 16, President Bush signed legislation, introduced in the House by Rep. Michael Castle, (Del.) and in the Senate by Sen. Paul Sarbanes (Md.), to honor firefighters and emergency personnel who have died in the line of duty.

The legislation directs the federal government to lower the American flag to half staff on all federal buildings to coincide with the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service held each year in Emmitsburg, Md. This year's service took place Oct. 7 in a nationally televised ceremony at which the president and FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh spoke.