Freedom Engine still in service in Harlem - Polidicks

Straight out of my town. [quote][img]http://media.knoxnews.com/media/img/photos/2011/09/10/420110910184841001_t607.JPG[/img] he Freedom Engine is still going strong — but getting closer to a well-deserved semiretirement. The tower-ladder fire truck was purchased with donations from East Tennessee and presented to the Fire Department of New York to replace one of the many lost on 9/11. FDNY assigned it to Ladder Company 14 in Harlem. That was in 2003. The vehicle is adorned with the original presentation plaque, a University of Tennessee "Power T" sticker and even a Tennessee license plate. The Power T sticker occasionally draws comments from people. "And even to this day, we get visitors from your area," said firefighter George Badde. "That amazes me that people still remember." Badde was just beginning his career when the Freedom Engine was ceremoniously presented to Ladder 14. Today he is one of four men regularly assigned to drive the vehicle as part of their duties. New York City is brutal on its vehicles. FDNY generally takes them out of regular service at their permanent stations after about 10 years. Often they are then placed on a reserve status and made available to whatever station is in need. Ladder 14 is currently in such a station, because the Freedom Engine is in the shop, but it is expected to return. "The rig has seen a lot of action and has performed very well," said firefighter Mike Gager, another Freedom Engine driver, or "chauffeur," as they are called in FDNY. The vehicle has been involved in a number of noted operations. These include a steam pipe explosion that caused major disruptions in midtown Manhattan and a highly publicized rescue of twin children from an apartment building. One of the more unusual operations involved horizontal use of the tower and bucket rather than the vertical uses. To rescue a man in the Harlem River, the Freedom Engine parked on shore, and the 94-foot tower was extended over the water to where the man was. This was in December, Badde recalled, and a firefighter dived from the bucket into the cold water to reach the man. The rescuer was awarded a medal. In the years since the Freedom Engine was donated, many firefighters from Ladder 14 have retired or been promoted out. But several remain, and they relate the Freedom Engine's story to the newcomers. "It gets passed down as time goes along," he said.[/quote] Source:[url]http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/10/freedom-engine-still-in-service-in-harlem/[/url] [editline]11th September 2011[/editline] Basically after 9/11 my town donated a fire engine to the NYFD and it's still in service.

How interesting.

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"Freedom Engine" is a pretty badass-sounding name.

I expected like an anti-slavery war machine, the story was cool though so I wasn't too disappointed, rated heart.

Let's not forget the firefighters who were in these when the accidents occurred.

[QUOTE=Ninja Duck;32243179]Let's not forget the firefighters who were in these when the accidents occurred.[/QUOTE] i dont think 9/11 was an accident

[QUOTE=Bombardier.;32236388]"Freedom Engine" is a pretty badass-sounding name.[/QUOTE] sounds like a transformer.

[QUOTE=DOG-GY;32245545]i dont think 9/11 was an accident[/QUOTE] It was obviously an inside job.

[QUOTE=3com111;32245990]It was obviously an inside job.[/QUOTE] Conducted by aliens

[QUOTE=Bombardier.;32236388]"Freedom Engine" is a pretty badass-sounding name.[/QUOTE] Maybe to Americans, I think its completely spammed in America giving it a less valued meaning. When it gets to the point that your naming things like french fries into freedom fries and adding american flags to everything then it kind of loses its style and taste. I've noticed that whenever Americans seem to name something they call it 'liberty' or 'freedom' or something very patriotic.

[QUOTE=3com111;32245990]It was obviously an inside job.[/QUOTE] good point [editline]12th September 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Vasili;32247038]Maybe to Americans, I think its completely spammed in America giving it a less valued meaning. When it gets to the point that your naming things like french fries into freedom fries and adding american flags to everything then it kind of loses its style and taste. I've noticed that whenever Americans seem to name something they call it 'liberty' or 'freedom' or something very patriotic.[/QUOTE] This is very true plus it seems life all the Republican supported bills are called shit like this just to bathe in their own arrogance as if their ideas are actually any good No Child Left Behind Patriot Act

Expected it to be the real Haarlem.

[QUOTE=Vasili;32247038]Maybe to Americans, I think its completely spammed in America giving it a less valued meaning. When it gets to the point that your naming things like french fries into freedom fries and adding american flags to everything then it kind of loses its style and taste. I've noticed that whenever Americans seem to name something they call it 'liberty' or 'freedom' or something very patriotic.[/QUOTE] what I eat french fries, not freedom fries. I live in a house, not a freedom house. I walk on the sidewalk on my bike, not on the freedom walk on my freedom bike. I have never once interacted with an item in all my life that was prefixed with freedom, or liberty for that matter.

The only things I can think of are "freedom fries", which is a ridiculous term that I have never heard a human being use, and the Liberty Bell, which has a relevant backstory to it.

[QUOTE=Vasili;32247038]Maybe to Americans, I think its completely spammed in America giving it a less valued meaning. When it gets to the point that your naming things like french fries into freedom fries and adding american flags to everything then it kind of loses its style and taste. I've noticed that whenever Americans seem to name something they call it 'liberty' or 'freedom' or something very patriotic.[/QUOTE] If you honestly believe most Americans actually do this, then, I'm sorry to say, but you're really fucking ignorant. I would say this is possibly one of the stupidest things I've ever heard, but it really isn't. It ranks up there though. The only "Freedom" thing I have [b]ever[/b] heard of before is "Freedom Fries," and then only to make fun of Nixon and those who follow his stupidly-exaggerated anti-Communist ideals. And I've yet to meet one who actually follows them. I have only heard "Freedom fries" usually accompanied by "are you a Communist?" and sentences suffixed with "in America!," all in parody.