[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S2140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING BANGOR FLORAL COMPANY

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, this Saturday, we celebrate 
Valentine's Day, when couples across the world take a moment to slow 
down and show each other their appreciation and love. Along with ``Be 
My Valentine'' cards and boxes of chocolate, one of the symbols most 
connected with this special day is a beautiful bouquet of red roses. 
With that in mind, I rise to recognize a small florist in my home State 
of Maine that continually provides customers with quality flowers and 
gifts--and at this time of year, makes Valentine's Day a sweet event.
  Bangor Floral Company, founded in 1925, is a historic floral shop 
located in downtown Bangor. Housed in a converted, turn-of-the-century 
church, Bangor Floral prides itself on fresh flowers, creative 
arrangements, and responsive customer service. From red and pastel 
roses, to bright lilies, chrysanthemums, and snapdragons, Bangor Floral 
expertly prepares beautiful bouquets for any occasion. Bangor Floral 
also organizes a variety of fresh fruit baskets and gift baskets that 
include cookies, candies, stuffed animals, and balloons. To keep his 
flowers fresh, Phil Frederick, owner of Bangor Floral Company, 
purchases his flowers locally whenever possible, and does not pass any 
additional costs onto the customer. Mr. Frederick, a third generation 
florist, also offers his clients a 50 percent discount off all cut 
flowers from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. each afternoon, fashioning this sale a 
``happy hour.''
  Around Valentine's Day, Mr. Frederick engages in a creative and 
humorous television and radio advertising campaign for his flowers that 
residents from across the region will recognize. In his television ad, 
Mr. Frederick dresses as a doctor and carries a stethoscope, calling 
himself ``Doctor Valentine.'' The popular ad has run in the Bangor area 
for several years, bringing smiles to the faces of his customers and 
increasing Mr. Frederick's sales.
  Mr. Frederick is also very committed to the local community. A member 
of the Bangor Rotary Club, Mr. Frederick gives flowers to fellow 
Rotarians for their birthdays. He also donates flowers to various 
organizations across Bangor for fundraising purposes. Mr. Frederick is 
currently president of the Husson Alumni Board, as well as a board 
member of the Oncology Support Foundation, which provides resources and 
information to cancer patients and their families throughout Maine. The 
latter is a cause near and dear to Mr. Frederick, who is a cancer 
survivor himself. Additionally, the Bangor Rotary Club has honored Mr. 
Frederick by naming him a Paul Harris Fellow, as someone who has truly 
exhibited the creed of ``service above self'' in his everyday life.
  In the era of online and telephone-based florists, Bangor Floral 
Company allows customers the opportunity to see and discuss the proper 
arrangement, and to truly ``smell the roses.'' My sincerest thanks to 
Phil Frederick for all of his generous efforts, and my best wishes to 
everyone at Bangor Floral for a pleasant Valentine's season and a 
successful year.

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