PROCLAMATION TO COMMEMORATE
NATIONAL SIDS, PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS AWARENESS MONTH

Whereas, the month of October marks the occasion of National SIDS, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month observances across the United States, focused on generating public understanding, compassion for bereaved families and support for medical research;

Whereas each year, approximately one million pregnancies in the United States end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of a newborn baby;

Whereas each year more than 25,000 families experience the stillbirth death of a precious baby;

Whereas SIDS remains the leading cause of death for infants one month to one year of age;

Whereas it is a great tragedy to lose the life of a child;

Whereas even the shortest lives are still valuable, and the grief of those who mourn the loss of these lives should not be trivialized;

Whereas the observance of SIDS, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month may provide validation to those who have lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS or other postnatal infant death;

Whereas recognizing SIDS, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month will provide the people of the United States with an opportunity to increase their understanding of the great tragedy involved in the deaths of unborn and newborn babies;

Whereas SIDS, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month would enable the people of the United States to consider how, as individuals and communities, they can meet the needs of bereaved mothers, fathers, and family members, and work to prevent the causes of these deaths; and

Whereas, First Candle and its constituency fund medical research to uncover the causes of pregnancy and infant loss; offer emotional support programs to families who have suffered the loss of a beloved baby; and supply current information to the general public, particularly new and expectant parents and health care providers;

Whereas, First Candle and its constituency work to unite parents, caregivers, and researchers with governmental, business and community service organizations in a nationwide movement to advance the support available for bereaved families and hasten the elimination of SIDS, stillbirth, miscarriage and other causes of sudden infant death;

Whereas, First Candle and its constituency hope to broaden the scope and availability of lifesaving infant health messages and elevate awareness of infant deaths to the level of societal concern which they rightly deserve;

Now therefore I, the Governor of the state of . . . (language inserted by congressional office)