The West Grove Fire Company's antique fire truck, known as "Elsie," is in Indianapolis this week at the world's largest fire and emergency services expo -- the FDIC, the Fire Department Instructors Conference.

Antique 22 is serving as the centerpiece of the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Hale Corporation, the truck's manufacturer in 1928. Hale requested the West Grove Fire Company provide Antique 22 when Hale learned of the fire company's restoration.

The antique truck was transported 650 miles by specialty carrier to the convention center, where it will be displayed among nearly 100 brand new fire trucks and emergency vehicles amid more than 750,000 square feet of exhibitions and hundreds of training courses attended by the show's nearly 40,000 attendees.

Hale paid for all expenses, and also provided travel for two "Elsie escorts" from the WGFC -- vice president Mike Miller, and former president Bill Wohl. The antique's display includes a memorial for Mike Predmore, the fire company member who passed away last month after overseeing Elsie's restoration. "We know Mike wanted so much to be here at FDIC, yet we know he is here in spirit at this very proud moment for the West Grove Fire Company," said Wohl.

Being the oldest truck at FDIC, and also being the only antique, "Elsie" was a huge hit. Visitors to the Hale Booth to see Elsie included attendees from China, Japan, Australia, Thailand, Mexico, Columbia, Argentina, and nearly every state in the nation. The Hale team set up a creative photo opportunity, allowing FDIC attendies to "Take a Selfie with Elsie" and get an email of the photo sent to them at no charge.

Other representatives from the West Grove Fire Company attended the FDIC show, taking full advantage of classroom and hand's on training classes, as well as viewing the exposition displays. They included President John Chambers, Relief Association President Steve Flegal, and firefighters Danny O'Connell and Mike Predmore Jr.

The WGFC contingent will return home on Saturday, and Elsie is due to arrive via her 75 foot specialty tractor trailer shipment early next week.

Additional coverage on Antique 22 in the Avon Grove Sun: http://www.southernchestercountyweeklies.com/general-news/20140424/wg-fire-company-antiquegoes-to-national-conference

For more information on Elsie see: http://www.wgfc.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=434 and http://wgfc.org/content/antique22/