Honoring and acknowledging the recent heroic exploits of two sisters, thirteen-year-old Lestine Adderley and eleven-year-old Robin Adderley for their quick and decisive thinking during a fire which destroyed their home.

WHEREAS, On Sunday, March 2, 2003, Robin and Lestine were awakened in the wee hours of the morning to find a major portion of their home engulfed in flames. As fire and smoke quickly engulfed their house, young Robin, without hesitation or hysteria and showing wisdom beyond her years quickly alerted her sleeping relatives of the pending danger and was instrumental in helping several adult loved ones escape the fierce blaze; and

WHEREAS, Lestine and a seven-year-old relative were trapped in a bedroom upstairs with raging flames and thick smoke preventing them from exiting the second story bedroom, Lestine was able to keep a cool head, pray and use her mind to escape the inferno. Encouraging her younger relative to remain calm, Lestine with the younger girl riding piggyback leaped from her bedroom window onto a pile of snow which she believed would cushion their drop onto the ground; and

WHEREAS, Lestine safely landed on her feet with the young relative in tow and the two young girls were able to walk away from the inferno without incurring serious injuries or loss of life; and

WHEREAS, The acts of faith and heroic deeds of Lestine and Robin Adderley saved the lives of all the members of the family and prevented the family from becoming fire casualty statistics in the city of Philadelphia; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby honors and commends Lestine and Robin Adderley for their selfless acts of heroism that saved the lives of their family.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Lestine Adderley and Robin Adderley as evidence of the sincere admiration and sentiment of this legislative body.

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