Sen. Schumer: Call For More West Point Fire Dept. Funding

Recently Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer paid a visit to the United States' top military academy at West Point. However, this trip was not one of pleasure or leisure, Senator Schumer visited West Point with a specific goal in mind.

Sen. Schumer's Agenda at West Point

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While at West Point Senator held a conference where he spoke about the West Point Fire Department. Specifically, he spoke of the Fire Department's need for better funding. Recent military budget cuts severely affected the amount of funding that West Point Fire has received.

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It was stated that West Point Fire in their most recent request was seeking nearly $2 million dollars in federal funding, mainly for the goal of replacing old equipment not suited for carrying out responsibilities. In return, the fire department received less than $100K.

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Sen. Schumer had this to say in response to West Point's request...

I am now asking the Army’s top brass to use the federal funding I secured for the DoD – in the recently passed omnibus appropriations bill – to make sure these budget shortfalls stop now.....
We must give our West Point firefighters the resources they need and deserve to protect our service members who protect our nation.

West Point Fire Serves Many

West Point's Fire Department just on its campus serves roughly 6,500 students and military families. In addition, West Point Fire also provides aid to many other communities throughout Orange County.

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Supporting Those Who Protect Us

I've said it in the past and I'll say it again now, the men and women who are members of our armed forces or are police officers or in this case firefighters, deserve all the support they may ask for. They risk it all to keep us safe here at home and around the world. Making sure that they have enough funding to properly be able to do their jobs and carry out their duties, while also giving each individual the best odds at returning home unscathed is not a difficult ask. In fact, it quite frankly is the bare minimum for what these individuals are willing to risk for us.

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Not going to lie, I've never been a fan of Sen. Schumer, hell I'm not a fan of any politician, but I'm especially not fond of those who have been in government twice as long as I've been alive. However, in the interest of fairness, this is one scenario will I will give credit where it is due. Attempting to secure this funding for West Point Fire is something that I believe most individuals should be able to get behind, regardless of one's own personal views and preferences in politics.

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11 Old Upstate Train Stations and Firehouses That Are Now Restaurants

The time comes in every small town in Upstate New York when they must look to giving up the ghost with their old train stations and firehouses. Time has passed these important places for the most part, and (in the case of the old firehouses), new, more modern ones must be built.

So, what to do with the old buildings?

Well, many communities have sold off their "old stock" of train depots and fire stations to private citizens who have breathed new life into the structures as modern, delicious, and very popular restaurants.

Here are some very old train depots and fire stations (some more than 150 years old), that

are now vital places in their communities, serving up delicious meals, a place for high-end cocktails, a venue for live entertainment, and more. And to the credit of almost each of these listed in this gallery, they have all managed to modernize these old buildings while leaving important nuances reflecting back on the DNA of their past, back to when the conductor used to holler "All Aboard" and to when the fire trucks barreled out the huge front doors answering the call in the neighborhood.

I think you will enjoy this list!

28 Distinguished Historic Figures Buried at West Point Cemetery

New York State is rich in history. West Point Cemetery acts as a national historic landmark and the final resting place for 28 historic figures. From Medal of Honor recipients and Military leaders to astronauts and other Military heroes, their final resting place can be found right here in the Hudson Valley.

Filed Under: Orange County, West Point

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