Housing and Dedication of "Courage"

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The Prince George’s fire department has launched breast cancer awareness month with a pink pumper named ‘Courage.’ (Lynh Bui/The Washington Post)

By Lynh Bui October 1 at 11:20 AM  

First there was “Pinky,” then there was “Hope,” and starting this week, there will be “Courage.”

The Prince George’s County fire and emergency services department launched breast cancer awareness month with a new pink fire truck named Courage. The name was selected from hundreds of suggestions people submitted via Twitter. Courage will be the third piece of pink equipment added to the county’s fleet and will be stationed in Capitol Heights.

Fire Chief Marc Bashoor said at a dedication ceremony that the pink vehicles are meant to remind the community to get regular cancer screenings. A lavender stripe around the new pink pumper is meant to represent all kinds of cancer, not just breast cancer, he said.

“We’re not just responders, we’re part of the community,” Bashoor said about why the county has adopted some of the pink vehicles.

Pinky was the county’s first pink pumper introduced in 2012. Shortly after, an ambulance the county named Hope also joined the ranks of pink-adorned apparatus.

Jane Stack, 49, was the first person to submit the name Courage for the newest pink pumper.

Stack, who is married to a county fire official, said she has had five operations to remove tumors, all of which had turned out to be benign and her personal experiences inspired the name. Before one procedure, Stack said she was particularly worried about her test results and told a nurse she was scared. But the nurse said something that helped ease her fears.

“‘No, you’re not scared,’” Stack recalled the nurse saying. “‘You have courage.’”

Lynh Bui is a Prince George's County public safety reporter and former Montgomery County education reporter.

All of the following images are courtesy of Teresa Ann Crisman, Community Outreach Coordinator for PGFD

Invocation and Benediction by Fire Service Chaplain Dwayne Frost

Jane stack was the Social Media Naming Contest Winner being as she was the first to suggest the name "COURAGE."

County Council Member Karen Toles, District 7

Fire Fighter/Medic Technician Rebecca Richardson spoke of the history of PGFP Proud to Wear Pink Campaign

All 3 PGFD PINK units together for the first time.

The Pink Fireman, Marshall Moneymaker, provided personal commentary on the need for monthly self-exams, awareness and early treatment.

Cathy Copertino, Executive Director of the DeCesaris Cancer Institute at Anne Arundel Medical Center highlighted awareness efforts by Firefighter/Medics are making a difference.

Fernando Ascencio is the Executive Director of Nueva Vida, a regional organization that supports 3,500 Latino families affected by cancer here in the metro area. 

Jim Johnson, President of Pierce Manufacturing, comments on building a piece of apparatus that means so many things to so many people.

County Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor took the podium to help announce the winner of our Social Media Contest to name the unit, name reveal and Housing of the new engine 805.

 

The new engine is pushed back into the fire station - "The Housing"