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The President of the Republic addressed a message to the Portuguese Firemen, on the occasion of the official opening of the National Year of Voluntary Firemen, which was held at EXPONOR in Matosinhos.
 
The text of the message was as follows:

"The League of Portuguese Firemen rightly decided to commemorate, in 2008, the National Year of Voluntary Firemen. Due to this opportune initiative I wish to greet the League and all the Associations of Voluntary Firemen, as well as their officers and members.

The associative movement of Portuguese firemen is, since its very origin, identified with what can be considered as the oldest and more durable demonstration of the people’s civic responsibility through voluntary work.

Since the middle of the 19th century the humanitarian firemen’s associations have multiplied in number. As a result of the actions of the people and of their communities, these bodies very early assumed the role of safeguarding the integrity of the people and their chattels and, at the same time, became a privileged instance of personal valuation and social integration of their members, through their voluntary work.

The close links between these associations and the communities they wished to serve was the fundamental bond which sustained the development of the corporations and the public recognition of their work, of their dedication and values of altruism, denial and solidarity, in the defence of the commonwealth.

These is how I perceive the meritorious initiative of the League of Portuguese Firemen, and confidently hope that, with this pointer, it may reassert the values of its identity and provide an incentive for a more active and solidary participation of the people and of the local and national institutions, in order that their mission becomes more effective and sustained.

I sincerely wish for the success and public recognition of the Portuguese Firemen. Our thanks are due for the undeniable and uninterested contribution which, throughout their history, they have given to Portugal. 

Aníbal Cavaco Silva