We'll bring the meeting to order the Wilmington City Council.

I'd like to welcome all those who are with us here this evening and all those who are watching us at home.

Thank you for taking an interest in your government.

At this time, I'd like to introduce Sergeant Ron Evans of the Wilmington Police Department.

If you'll please come forward to give our invocation, I will ask that everyone stand and remain standing afterwards for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

Let us pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day.

We thank you for your continued grace and your continued mercy that you bestow upon us day in and day out.

Father, we ask for special protection for our first responders, our teachers.

Those that work in the medical field guy, we thank you for them.

Lord, I ask that you continue to give wisdom to this council, to the city manager's office, to the city clerk's office, as they make their decision that will be beneficial to the citizens of Wilmington.

We pray this prayer in your son's name.

Amen.

Amen.

And to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God and the visible with liberty and justice for us.

And whereas it is fitting and proper to officially recognize this magnificent document and its memorable anniversary and to the patriotic celebrations which will commemorate the occasion.

And whereas public law nine fifteen guarantees the issuing of a proclamation each year by the President of the United States of America, designated September 17th through the 23rd as Constitution Week.

Now, therefore, I bill Sappho by the virtue of the authority vested in me as mayor of the City of Wilmington, North Carolina, to hereby proclaim the week of September 17th through the 23rd, 2025 as Constitution Week.

And the three greatest words in the Constitution is we the people.

We are a non-political women's service organization serving the community through education, patriotism, and historic preservation preservation.

Thank you, Mayor Sappho, for this important document as we celebrate the Constitution, which is the most important document in our history.

We will be celebrating the Constitution Day on September 17th at the Bergman White House at 3 p.m.

Please join us.

I will.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

This time I'd like to recognize John Hacker of the North Carolina Committee Chairman to be the one campaign.

The proclamation aimed in September 2025 is National Suicide Awareness Month.

Okay, Penny.

She's the producer and director, so let's see how this goes.

City of Wilmington, North Carolina, the proclamation reads, whereas September is National Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month, and suicide respects no boundaries, not age, sex, skin, color, marital status, educational profession, and is one of the leading causes of death, with one death by suicide every 11 minutes.

And whereas 18 to 25 veterans die by suicide every day, and whereas the American Legion Post exists to serve veterans, their families, and local communities, and whereas to address the issue of veteran suicides, the Legion created the Be the One initiative with the goal to destigmatize mental health issues, raise awareness of suicide in our communities, and provide practical tools to aid in suicide prevention.

And whereas the Legion is here to help through awareness programs and work within their communities, focusing first on raising awareness among service providers, law enforcement, EMS, and fire personnel, and then providing them with the necessary tools to better assist the public.

And whereas the Cape Fear Region Be the One program does that through a wallet card application driven link called Be the One.

Now, therefore, on behalf of the Wilmington City Council, I am Mayor Bill Sappho do hereby designate September 2025 as National Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month in the City of Wilmington, North Carolina.

I just want to thank the Allegiant for everything you folks do about John with all of the veterans in our community and this region.

So at this time, I'd like to turn it over to you.

Well, the Cape Air region is very veteran-friendly.

And we fought very hard, worked very hard to get this far, and we're so proud and pleased that Wilmington has done this, done an honor to us.

We're going to take this and really let people know that Wilmington has stepped up to the plate to serve our veterans and our people who are suffering.

Again, 22 to 25 veterans die a day through suicide.

That's one in 11 civilians.

So it's critical, and we're here to help.

And thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, City Council.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, John.

Thank you.

God bless you, folks.

Very good.

This time I'd like to recognize Wendy Gianni.

Gianni King, the community risk reduction coordinator of the Wilmington Fire Department, proclaiming or naming September 22nd to the 26th as Fall Prevention Awareness Week.

Oh, there she is.

Saw her earlier.

City of Wilmington, North Carolina proclamation reads, whereas the Wilmington Fire Department is observing a trending increase in frequent system utilizers, lift assists, and emergency calls related to falls, and whereas each year millions of older Americans experience falls, with one in four adults age 65 and older falling annually, often resulting in reduced mobility, loss of independence, and increased medical cost.

And whereas falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults, presenting a significant public health challenge that negatively affects individual well-being and community resources.