The front gate of the Union Street firehouse in downtown Flushing will receive a new mural following a donation from a Korean fried chicken chain.
State Senator John Liu announced the new project outside the firehouse located at 40-18 Union St. on Thursday afternoon. He joined the firefighters at FDNY Engine 273/Ladder129 company to present a certificate of appreciation to bb.q Chicken, which donated $3,000 for the initiative to bring the FDNY company’s vision to life.
“A new mural on the firehouse gate is sure to beautify this local landmark and inspire generations to come. Moreover, it celebrates the proud history of New York’s bravest and the over a century of service this firehouse has provided to the Flushing community,” said Senator Liu.
Liu mentioned that the initiative is extra meaningful to him since he has fond memories of visiting the Union Street firehouse as a young child with friends. They would watch the LIRR trains pass underneath and hoped the firehouse bell would go off to catch a glimpse of the trucks.
Officials said the mural will celebrate the spirit of the FDNY and honor the contributions of the firefighters who serve their community. It will also aesthetically brighten up the historic firehouse for those who report for duty there, and the local residents who walk by.
Captain Paul Agruso expressed his gratitude to bb.q Chicken and Senator Liu on behalf of his officers and members. He also said that once completed, the mural will strengthen his department’s connection to the Flushing community.
“This mural will not only honor the bravery of the men and women who serve but will also stand as a symbol of pride and unity for all those who pass through our doors. We look forward to sharing this meaningful artwork with the community, and we thank the Senator and Chairman for recognizing the importance of this project,” said Captain Agruso of FDNY Ladder 129.
A representative from the chain, which was founded in South Korea and now has several locations around the city, including one in Flushing, thanked the firefighters for their service.
“As a proud member of the community, we’re honored to support the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) with this contribution,” said Joshua Lee, director of bb.q Chicken USA. “From their heroic actions on 9/11 to their daily efforts to keep us safe, we owe the FDNY our deepest gratitude for their dedication to serving our community.”
