Madeline “Amy” Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery (2010)
This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, in which at least 206 people with ties to Massachusetts perished. The first flights to be hijacked took off from Boston Logan International Airport. Madeline “Amy” Sweeney, a flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11, displayed extraordinary cool under extreme pressure during the hijacking. The Massachusetts 9/11 Fund Blog is profiling the Sweeney Award recipients for the past quarter century every week leading up to the naming of the 2026 Honoree(s) at the 25th Anniversary Commemoration on September 11th.
Uxbridge four aid woman who is trapped after crash in car on fire
On Jan. 26, 2010, a sport-utility vehicle crashed on North Main Street in Uxbridge, trapping a 37-year-old Douglas woman inside with her seat belt still on.
Peter Chenevert, Michael and Jessica Genest, and David Bianco — all of Uxbridge, MA — came to the woman's aid. Chenevert, who lives near the scene of the North Main Street crash, called 911 and went to see how the woman was doing. Passers-by, including the Genests and Bianco, stopped.
According to media reports, Chenevert grabbed a fire extinguisher from his house to put out the fire. Jessica Genest cut the seat belt loose, while Bianco and Michael Genest kept the vehicle, which was on its side against a telephone pole, from rolling over.
Uxbridge Police arrived and after about an hour were able to extricate the woman from the SUV. She was taken by Life Flight helicopter to the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, MA.
“I was honored to meet these real heroes in person and thank them for their bravery. To be selected for this distinguished award among all commonwealth residents was humbling for these heroes and their families," State Rep. Jennifer Callahan of Sutton said. “With total disregard for their own personal safety, all of these heroes made a difference in someone’s life. A true tragedy was averted by these quick-thinking individuals.”
Next week: West Springfield mom dies shielding daughter in bathtub as tornado levels house