[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 19, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H3234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                A TRIBUTE TO FIREFIGHTER JOHN J. DOWNING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Grucci) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GRUCCI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to express 
my deepest sympathies and that of a grateful community to the Downing 
family and to pay honor and tribute to a true American hero, 
firefighter John J. Downing of Port Jefferson Station, New York.
  On June 17, 2001, John Downing and 350 of his fellow firefighters and 
numerous police officers responded to a 2:19 p.m. call to a 911 that 
sent them to Long Island General Supply Company in Queens, New York. As 
is always the case, these brave men and women responded without 
reservation and with little or no regard for their personal safety. By 
3 p.m., the blaze had gone to 5 alarms, and the fire and explosion had 
turned the 128-year-old Long Island General Supply Company into a 
horrific scene.

                              {time}  1915

  By 8 p.m. the fire had been controlled, but at a tragic cost: three 
firefighters lost their lives. Additionally, two civilians and dozens 
of firefighters were injured.
  The three brave men were firefighters John J. Downing of Port 
Jefferson Station, from Ladder Company 163; Harry Ford, of Long Beach; 
and Brian Fahey of East Rockaway, both of Rescue 4 unit.
  My constituent, John Downing, leaves his wife of 11 years; a 
daughter, Joanne; and a son, Michael. John Downing was one of seven 
children from Woodside. He went to elementary school at St. Sebastian 
School in Woodside, and then to high school in St. Francis Preparatory 
School in Fresh Meadows. He later went on to work in the construction 
field before becoming a firefighter 11 years ago.
  John Downing and all three of his brothers gave back to the community 
through public service. He and his brother Denis both became 
firefighters, Denis Downing now at Ladder Company 160 in Long Island 
City, and James and Joseph Downing are New York City police officers.
  Everyone who knew John called him a hero in every sense of the word. 
Every day he was on the job for the past 11 years as a firefighter. 
John always gave his all and did his best. Whether it was in fighting 
fires or helping young firefighters to learn their job better, everyone 
in the firehouse knew they could count on John.
  Knowing this, it was no surprise when firefighter Downing appeared on 
the front pages of the New York Daily News 3 years ago. He was pictured 
on the front page as a hero once again, rescuing passengers from a 
commercial jet that had gone off the runway at LaGuardia Airport and 
into the chilling waters of Flushing Bay.
  Firefighting was not John's entire life, though. He was a family man, 
doting over his two children and devoted to his wife. In recent weeks 
he had been working a second job to bring his family on their first 
real summer vacation to Ireland, to visit the relatives of his family 
and his wife's. Sadly, when the alarm for his last fire came, John was 
2 hours away from ending his shift and beginning that vacation.
  As the alarm went off, John put down the study book he had been 
reading, preparing to take the exam to become a lieutenant in the fire 
department. He grabbed his gear, and with the last full measure of 
devotion and commitment, John and his colleagues answered their last 
call.
  Today John and his colleagues are in the loving embrace of God. I ask 
my colleagues to please join me in extending our deepest sympathies to 
the families of these three brave heroes and in recognizing the brave 
sacrifices of a true hero, John J. Downing.

                          ____________________