Board issues proclamations for water‑safety month, Peace Officers Memorial Day and AANHPI Heritage Month

The Orange County Board of Supervisors opened its May 21 meeting with a series of ceremonial proclamations honoring public‑safety and cultural observances.

Chair presented a proclamation declaring May as Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Month and invited partners from nonprofit and public agencies. Jonathan St. Clair of the Jasper Ray Foundation thanked the board and highlighted coalition work and drowning‑prevention education; Vice Chairman Doug Chaffee and Supervisor Katrina Foley urged parents to enroll children in swim lessons and exercise constant supervision.

The board also recognized May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day to honor deputies and officers who died or were disabled in the line of duty. Sheriff Barnes and a representative of the Orange County Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs Association spoke about local memorial events and officer wellbeing.

Supervisor Katrina Foley introduced a resolution marking Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Community leaders from the Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance and the Pacific Islander Health Partnership described the month’s themes and stressed needs for culturally competent services, mental‑health support and housing.

These recognitions were ceremonial; no policy action was taken. The board then moved into the regular meeting agenda.