Denis Leary | Leary Foundation | Leary Firefighters

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino proclaimed Tuesday, August 15th, 2006 "Leary Firefighters Foundation Day" to mark the foundation's gift of a high-speed fire rescue boat to the Boston Fire Department. The 27 ft. Vigilant, a modified-Boston Whaler, is one third the size and three times faster than Boston's current 30 year-old fire boat. Equipped with four searchlights, 450 hoursepower, GPS, radar and a pump capable of delivering 780 gallons of water perminute, the Vigilant is unsinkable. With it's low profile and shallow draft, it can easily maneuver through and around the many piers, docks and channels in the Boston Fire Department with ease, giving the first response teams the ability to operate faster and more safely than ever before.

"This important gift from The Leary Foundation will have a huge impact on the ability of the Boston Fire Department to protect Boston's Harbor and the citizens of the city safely and swiftly," said Boston Fire Commissioner Kevin MacCurtain.

"At the heart of all our work is the desire to give firefighters a better chance of returning home to their families at the end of the day, and to ensure that they have what they need to protect us," said Denis Leary. "In this day and age, with our first responders facing the front lines of the war on terror, the challenges and the need to be prepared are greater and more critical than ever. On behalf of all of us at the Foundation, we are honored to do whatever can to help them."

The day's festivities included a press conference and demonstration at the Hyatt Harborside at Logan Airport as well as a special pre-game ceremony at the Boston Red Sox game that evening.

Click to see additional pictures of Leary Firefighters Foundation Day.

Click to read some of the Press Coverage of Leary Firefighters Foundation Day.