[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 144 (Thursday, September 11, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S8372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING FIREFLY RESTORATIONS

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I recognize Firefly 
Restorations of Hope, ME, a company whose tribute to the fallen 
firefighters of September 11 stands as a symbol of our Nation's resolve 
and exemplifies the selfless spirit of Maine's small businesses.
  Firefly Restorations is one of a small number of businesses that 
restore and rebuild antique fire apparatus. Firefly's owner, Andy 
Swift, is a Mainer with a life-long love of firefighting and fire 
engines. Mr. Swift, a firefighter of over fourteen years, has been 
restoring fire engines for two decades. In his words he has been: ``. . 
. immersed in this world of fire.''
  On September 11, 2001, Mr. Swift watched from his television as his 
brethren entered the Twin Towers and sacrificed their lives so that 
those trapped inside might live. It was at that moment that Mr. Swift 
resolved to do something, anything, to assist or to commemorate the 
events of that tragic day. At first, Mr. Swift felt a visceral pull to 
Ground Zero. As he said, ``When you're a fireman, you have a 
firefighter's heart.'' But instead, he found a different and unique way 
to show his gratitude for the sacrifices of the fallen firefighters of 
the New York City Fire Department.
  Mr. Swift made an offer to the New York City Fire Department. He 
said, provide me with a fire engine, any fire engine, and I will 
restore it for free. Shortly after the offer was made, the New York 
City Fire Department asked him to restore a nineteenth century hose 
wagon, and Mr. Swift was more than happy to oblige.
  Restoring fire engines is a costly and time consuming task. Firefly 
Restorations typically takes 2 years to refurbish an engine, but with 
Maine firefighters raising $3,500 for materials and Mr. Swift and his 
employees donating over 2,500 hours of free labor, the hose wagon was 
completed within 6 months.
  On October 12, 2002, 1 year, 1 month, and 1 day after September 11, 
the fire hose Firefly Restorations refurbished made its debut at the 
fallen firefighter's memorial service in Madison Square Garden. Amidst 
the tributes and memorial services the antique hose wagon stood as a 
silent reminder of the links between generations of brave men and women 
who rush into buildings when others rush out. In his own way, Mr. Swift 
put the ceremony into perspective when he said, ``It was probably one 
of the most moving things that I've been involved with. I think it was 
a healing process, and I think it was important for me to go through . 
. . I was brokenhearted like many, many other people were, and I just 
thought it was part of the stage of healing.''
  Seven years after September 11 Mr. Swift and his business are still 
in Maine and continue to restore fire engines. After the October 2002 
memorial service, the hose wagon returned to Maine, and, today, it can 
be found at the Owls Head Transportation Museum in Owls Head, Maine. On 
the seventh anniversary of September 11, we take this day to grieve and 
commemorate the extraordinary acts preformed by ordinary Americans like 
Andy Swift and his employees at Firefly Restorations.
  I thank Andy Swift and Firefly Restorations for this gift to our 
country, our Nation's firefighters, and to those brave heroes who gave 
their lives on September 11.

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