In 2012, the Old Fort Fire Department donated their old “Blue Goose” Mack fire truck to our Team to be restored as “Big John”, our tribute to our beloved friend and team member, John Winn, Sr. Chief Winn was being treated for lung cancer and he wanted to use a fire truck to raise awareness to the dangers of firefighting and the need for all our fire personnel to have scans done as a part of their physicals to detect cancer while it was still treatable. John succumbed to his cancer in the Summer of 2012, but his “Big John” truck continues to carry on his wish of providing that awareness to our firefighters.
When we were stripping the “Blue Goose”, we removed the Old Fort decals from the doors as a part of the restoration. We preserved one of the decals, had it matted and framed, and presented it to our Old Fort brothers and sisters where it has hung on the wall as a symbol of our appreciation for their commitment to the project and our Team.
The Old Fort Fire Department is joining the Dorchester Fire Rescue Department later this month as an expansion of countywide fire protection. Today, Chief Ed Genthert returned the framed decal to us where it will now become a part of our permanent “Big John” display in our Team offices. It is truly our honor to make this emblem a part of our history and tribute to our brother Battalion Chief John Winn, Sr. and to the great history of the Old Fort Fire Department.
