Ford F-150 at 2009 SEMA Show to Honor Armed Forces Members via Dramatic Action Murals by Airbrush Artist Mickey Harris

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--A 2009 Ford F-150 customized crew cab truck honoring the men and women of our armed forces – the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard – was unveiled at the 2009 SEMA Convention, Nov. 3-9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The Freedom Truck, a dark navy blue Ford F-150 Super Crew Lariat, is highlighted by a series of murals painted over the past three months by internationally renowned airbrush artist Mickey Harris. The truck will be the featured display at the Ford booth 22200 in Central Hall.

The one-of-a-kind truck and Motor Trend’s “2009 Truck of the Year,” is the brainchild of Malibu Customz, the coordinator of the special program, together with Mickey Harris, the Ford Motor Company, and a host of high-end specialty vendors all of which contributed in bringing the truck’s value to over $100,000.

Harris, known for his free-hand air brush style, “pulled off an amazing feat in bringing to life each of the armed services roles through his enormous talents,” according to Rick Spears, owner of Malibu Customz. The Army mural features an Apache helicopter and two M1-A1 Abrams tanks; the Air Force, an F-22 Raptor, C-17 Globemaster and a Preditor; the Marines, a Stallion and Cobra helicopters, and a Bradley Fighting Machine; the Navy, a carrier crew, two F-18 Hornets, Navy Seals, and a destroyer; and the Coast Guard, an air/sea disaster rescue operation. The hood of the truck depicts an American bald eagle carrying an American Flag in flight.

Adding a high-tech touch to Harris’ artistry, in the bed of the truck Provision and Phantasmic Entertainment have installed a show-stopping holographic display that projects images that float in the air several feet behind the truck.

Following SEMA, the truck will be showcased on military events, displayed at NASCAR races and car shows after which it will be sold at auction. The proceeds will then be donated to the Fisher House, a non-profit organization dedicated to injured and recovering servicemen’s family members and loved ones.

The following is a list of the contributors to the 2009 Freedom Truck:

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