CHAPTER 777
STATE OF DELAWARE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
DOVER
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) kills more babies between the ages of one week and one year than any other disease and is second only to accidents as the greatest killer of children between one week and fifteen years; and
WHEREAS, this malady strikes down over 10,000 victims every year in the United States, babies who are otherwise in the best of health; and
WHEREAS, SIDS is neither predictable nor preventable; because it occurs suddenly without warning and because of wide-spread ignorance about the disease, both among professional and laymen, its aftermath among surviving family members is one of extreme grief and overwhelming guilt; and
WHEREAS, besides the death of thriving children, SIDS produces countless broken homes and broken spirits, tragic byproducts which are needless and preventable; the veil of ignorance about sudden infant death syndrome must be lifted;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sherman W. Tribbitt, Governor of the State of Delaware, do hereby proclaim the month of May, 1973, as
HELP CONQUER SUDDEN INFANT DEATH MONTH
and call upon all our citizens to support the efforts of the Delaware Valley Chapter as set out by the National Foundation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, SHERMAN W. TRIBBITT, Governor of the State of Delaware, have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the said State to be hereunto affixed at Dover this 13th day of April
(GREAT SEAL) in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and seventy-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the one hundred and ninety-seventh.
SHERMAN W. TRIBBITT, Governor
Attest: ROBERT H. REED, Secretary of State