A Running History of Launch 5 Happenings
As they appeared on home page. Most recent on top.
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May 2009 |
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It has been a busy winter and spring for the crew of Launch 5. Led by the tireless efforts of chief engineer Cliff Forrest and chief electrician Phil Porteus, the Launch 5 crew is in the process of upgrading numerous systems in preparation for the 2009 season and beyond. These upgrades are particularly timely as Launch 5 will serve as the lead safety vessel for the 400th Anniversary of New York Flotilla from Manhattan to Albany in early June. (See the Explore NY 400 website for the full itinerary of the week's activities). Click the picture to the left to see details and photos of the improvements. |
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December 2008 |
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On December 12, 2008 Steven Soderbergh's movie "Che" was released at New York's Ziegfeld Theater. Launch 5 and crew were filmed for a scene back in 2006. The scene takes place during a 1964 visit to the U.N. by Che Guevara. During his speech, a mortar is fired from Belmont Island toward the U.N. In this scene, we are patrolling on Launch 5 (in full NYPD uniform) and stop a boat just before the mortar is launched. Click the picture to the left to view the brief scene which was videotaped off the screen. It was nice to see the Launch take up the huge screen. |
| Check out the Photo Gallery of 2008 Mission Highlights recently added | |
| View Past Headlines... |
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August 2008 |
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On August 31, 2008 Launch 5 will serve as the committee boat for the Sixteenth Annual Great North River Tugboat Race & Competition. Tugs will gather at Pier 84 at 09:30 AM and will proceed North to the race starting line at 79th Street Boat Basin where the race will begin at 10:30AM. At 11:00AM will be the traditional nose-to-nose pushing contest and at noon, they will tie up at Pier 84 for an awards ceremony. Pier 84 is a brand new recreational park at W44th street - one pier South of where the Intrepid is normally berthed. The event is Sponsored by the Working Harbor Committee, in conjunction with Capt. Jerry Roberts (founder of the event), Bert Reinauer (Reinauer Transportation) and the Tugboat Race Steering Committee. |
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November 2007 |
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On November 9, 2007 Launch 5 and her crew participated undercover in a multi-agency drill designed to test radiation detection equipment in a real world situation. Working with the USCG, NYPD, FDNY, NJSP and Nassau County PD, Launch 5 was the radioactive source in a "blind test" of all agency's test equiment. Please click on the photo at the left for more on this story and some action photos. |
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April 2007 |
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During several weekends in April 2007, many dedicated volunteers came out to work on Launch 5 and get her ready for what should be an active 2007 season. She got much needed mechanical work done as well as an exterior tune up with painting and buffing. Please click on the photo at the left for more on this story and some action photos. |
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October 2006 |
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On October 13, 2006 Launch 5 and her crew were honored to take ten wounded combat soldiers for a tour of NY Harbor. Ten U.S. Army soldiers from Walter Reed Medical Center boarded Launch 5 for a tour through NY Harbor, past the Trade Center site, the Statue of Liberty and out to Rockaway. These men, who have given so much for us, were an absolute pleasure to be around and we were honored to be a part of their day. Click on the photo to the left for more photos from this mission. |
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June 2006 |
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On June 15, 2006 Launch 5 & Crew had the honor of a
special request mission to transport Rear Admiral David P. Pekoske from
Sta. Sandy Hook to Sta. New York for Capt. Wiltshire's Change of
Command. RDML Pekoske is the Commander of the First Coast Guard District
and the Commander of Maritime Defense Command One. Click on the photo to the left for more photos from this mission. |
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May 2006 |
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From May 15 through May 19, 2006 Launch 5 and crew participated
in a scientific mission. Launch 5 provided the platform for a week of
intense measurements of Loran-C signals throughout New York Harbor. These
measurements are being used by the Coast Guard Academy and Loran Support Unit to
determine potential effectiveness of Loran as an augmentation to GPS for greater
position accuracy and reliability. Click on the photo on the left to access photos from the mission as well as a more detailed story behind the mission. |
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January 2006 |
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← On January 17, 2006 Launch 5 and several of her crew were filmed for an upcoming Steven Soderbergh movie. Seven of her crew posed as NYPD Harbor cops aboard Launch 5 for a scene in the movie. Click on the photo to the left for more on the event. On January 15, 2006 Captain of the Port of NY, Capt. Glenn Wiltshire, presented Launch 5 a prestigious challenge coin to honor the vessel's service and accomplishments. Click on the photo to the right to see a larger picture. → |
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December 2005 |
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On December 30, 2005, Launch 5 crew took the launch on the final mission for 2005. It was a photographic mission and a lot of good photos were taken. We were joined by renowned studio portrait photographer Len Irish (pictured at left). The cruise was followed by the second annual holiday gathering at Squires restaurant. Click on the photo to the left to check out the photos from the event. |
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Thanks to the heroic efforts of the crew from White's Marina, Launch 5 was put back in the water on December 23, 2005 for a special mission. Bill and Greg were on hand to take a bunch of great photos of the ice breaking and launching. Click on the photo to the left to check them out. |
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November 2005 |
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Launch 5 is undergoing a major upgrade in capability with the installation of a Northern Lights M753W2 Generator. This 8KW generator will expand the capabilities of Launch 5 by providing power for industrial equipment such as movie camera and robotics equipment and paves the way for an electric winch which can be used for debris removal or heavy equipment deployment. View a slide show of Cliff Forrest and Will Stroncer installing the GenSet. |
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October 2005 |
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On October 27, 2005 the NYPD Harbor, SCUBA and Aviation Units recovered the body of a rower who drowned tragically in an early morning collision on the Harlem River days before. Launch 5 was patrolling in the Harlem River at the time of the recovery and assisted the NYPD by providing perimeter security. Click on the photo to the left for more photos from the mission. |
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← Launch 5 landed the centerfold of the October 2005 issue of Professional Mariner magazine including some great photos and article. Checkout the Online Version of the article. Launch 5 Crewmember Lynn Valenti, while volunteering for the Gulf Coast recovery effort, meets Admiral Allen. Click on the photo on the right to see a few more pix. → |
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September 2005 |
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On September 9, 2005 Launch 5 attended an NYPD Memorial honoring the Heroes of Sept 11, 2005. The memorial took place at North Cove Marina near Ground Zero. Click the photo to the left for some pictures from the event. |
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| On September 10, 2005 Launch 5 served as the committee boat for the H.R.Y.R.A. Open Regatta Shattemuc Yacht Club. Click on the photo to the right for pictures from this event. |
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July 2005 |
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On July 9, 2005, Launch 5 and Flotilla 6-7 participated in a multi-agency rescue drill. Numerous agencies practiced a ferry evacuation, victim recovery from the water, underwater bomb sweeps and more. Click on the photo to the left to view many photos from the event. |
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June 2005 |
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Greg Porteus, Charlie Luceno and Rick Veit were interviewed for the television program "Reach Out". This program has been viewed in over 3 million homes. ReachOut.org has also made this program available online. Click on the photo to the left to check out the web page and video. |
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On May 26, 2005 Launch 5 picked up 9 students and 2 staff from Greenburgh North Castle Union Free School District /Saint Christopher's Child Care agency for a memorable trip down the Hudson to New York Harbor. The students were met at the dock and given a tour of the USS Kennedy Naval aircraft carrier. Click the photo to the left for more pictures. |
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May 2005 |
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The April 13-19, 2005 edition of the North County News has a nice article about Launch 5, the crew and activities. Click the picture to the left to read the article complete with some great quotes from Rick Veit and Jim Picciano |
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November 2004 |
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On November 14, 2004, Greg & Briget Porteus and Henry Walburger Jr. traveled to Los Angeles to meet Joseph Wambaugh the famous author and screen writer to discuss the Launch 5 book project. While at the party, they met many cop-show celebs. Click on the picture to the left for more photos. |
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October 2004 |
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In August of 2004, Launch 5 spent the weekend with the Coast Guard in Pt Pleasant, NJ assisting with the annual NJ Power Boat Race. Check out the mission photos - including pictures of a boat that disintegrated during the race. |
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The Launch 5 project is a volunteer effort and is now a non-profit
organization dedicated to
Environmental, Search & Rescue, Education and Historic Preservation on the
Hudson River.
The DVD is a must-have training video for offshore
mariners |
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August 2004 |
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Greg's investigative skills have turned up original photos of Launch 5 being built in Matton Shipyard, Cohoes, NY in 1966. Click on one of the photos left or right to view all the photos which were taken by Tom Urquhart who worked on the construction. |
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June 2004 |
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Launch 5 once again participated in the Fleet Week festivities in 2004. As a special public service, USCG Aux Coxswain Jim Picciano secured permission to take a group of his students for a trip to the Intrepid aboard Launch 5. For many of them, this was a brand new experience and, by all accounts, one they will not forget. Click on the photo to the left to go to the mission page for this mission. |
| Launch 5 in the News Again: On June 4,5 2004, Launch 5 and her crew provided the platform for a high tech search of the Hudson River's bottom for a suicide victim whose body never surfaced. Using a combination of side scan sonar and a remote control camera robot, Steve Van Meter, a NASA robotics specialist, Bob Christ & Bill Martin from VideoRay and George Martin from Raymarine volunteered their time under the Bear Mountain Bridge searching the bottom. While nothing was found, the effort was important to the New York State Police in moving the investigation along and proved to be a learning experience for all involved. The NY Journal News published a front page article June 22, 2004 detailing the case and the recovery effort. Be sure to read the online article. A full mission page with story, photos and lessons learned will be forthcoming here on Launch5.com |
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May 2004 |
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On Sunday May 2, 2004 The New York Shields Honored Patrolman Walburger at their annual Memorial Breakfast on the U.S.S. Intrepid. Walburger's children and grandchildren were on hand to receive the award and take a ride on Launch 5 which once again bears the name of their patriarch who gave his life in the line of duty. Pictured at left is Henry III (son of Henry Jr.) receiving the medal of honor. Please view all the photos (and a video) of the event by clicking on the photo to the left. |
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April 2004 |
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On Sunday April 25, 2004, Launch 5 was assigned to the Queen Mary 2 security detail for her first sail from NY Harbor (and The Queen Elizabeth 2's last sail ever). Check out the photos of this mission in the photo gallery. |
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March 2004 |
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| Thanks to the gracious effort of Andrew
Nelson (http://www.huntzman.com)
to search and donate from his archives of Spring 3100 magazines, we have a couple of significant historical additions to the site. Check out the History Page for the Spring 3100 clippings we've added. |
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February 2004 |
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| Lynn goes "on the job" Lynn Valenti, dedicated crew and electrician for Launch 5 as well as USCG Aux crew has reached official "tinwoman" status by being officially inducted into the NYPD Harbor Unit Auxiliary. Lynn, I hope we see you on the Launch once in awhile during the summer! |
 L. to R. APO. Kalman, APO Mulqueen, APO.SGT. Mesa, APO. Valenti, APO. Gromet, APO. Van Allen |
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December 2003 |
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| Greg Meets Perfect Storm Author |
On November 21, 2003, Greg met Sebastian Junger - the author of the bestselling book and popular movie The Perfect Storm. After admiring the photo of Launch 5 (background) he autographed a copy of the book to Greg and the Crew of Launch 5 (see a scan of it). |
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| Launch 5 has a new crew member |
Check out the latest addition to the Launch 5 Crew roster on the Crew Page. |
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November 2003 |
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| Launch 5 Appears on NBC's Law & Order: |
On November 12, 2003, Launch 5 appeared as the backdrop for the opening scene of NBC's popular hit series Law & Order. If you missed it, click on the picture to the right to view the clip. |
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© 2003 National Broacasting Company |
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October 2003 |
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| Congresswoman Sue Kelly Patrol: |
On October 19, 2003 Launch 5 was honored to host Congresswoman Sue Kelly on patrol in the Hudson River. Capt. Daniel R. Croce & Commander James L. Munro from the US Coast Guard, Ossining Police Chief Kenneth Donato and Judge Daniel McCarthy were also on board. News 12 Westchester rode with us and aired a great 2 minute spot narrated by Antoinette Biordi of News12. View a short video of the event. Photos are now also available. |
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June 2003 |
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Launch 5/Helicopter Operation
Completed |
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Send comments, inquiries and questions to
info@Launch5.com
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Web site by BS artist Last modified: June 16, 2009
