I have been a member of SPAAMFAA for many years and when I learned that the Rhode Island Antique Fire Apparatus Society (RIAFAS) was planning to host the national summer muster and banquet here in my hometown of Warwick, Rhode Island, I was elated because I have been a collector and restorer of antique fire apparatus for many years. It took many months of preparation by the members of RIAFAS to accomplish this outstanding event, and I give them high praise for a great job in producing the greatest event of this kind that I ever attended. Over 118 trucks from as far away as California and Canada were on display. The Crown Plaza hotel in Warwick was full to capacity as rooms were sold out. The weather people had talked about the threat of rain all week. Up until the morning of the event, the forecast did not look good. We were, however, lucky to enjoy a fantastic cloudy but dry day.
To top things off, I was even happier when my 1939 Ahrens Fox Hercules won the award for "Most Original Apparatus". The trophy is named in memory of Joseph Pingatore III, recently deceased leading member of the Rhode Island Antique Fire Apparatus Society.