Doug Merrit and David Schackow are co-owners of a 1951 American LaFrance 700 series fire engine. We use the truck mostly for parades, but we are also hoping to take it to Notre Dame for tail gating eventually. Go Irish! Being ND fans, we have unofficially dubbed the rig "Irish Red." The engine started its life in Lorain, OH and was later sold to Worthville, KY. After being in the hands of a few co
llectors, my good friend and long-time mentor, John Snyder bought her to add to his fleet of ALFs. John has been driving antique fire apparatus in the Mishawaka and Osceola Memorial Day parades for several years. At one parade many years ago, David Schackow and his oldest daughter, Ryleigh, were standing in the crowd when John spotted them. He waved for them to come jump on the truck and ride in the parade which began a long tradition of the Schackow family joining John's Memorial Day tradition. A few years ago, John put the 51 up for sale. David and his friend and neighbor, Doug Merritt, immediately jumped at the chance to own an antique fire engine. We now have two parades under our belts and we gladly join the "Snyder Antique Fire Department" each Memorial Day.
