WAYNESBORO – The Waynesboro Fire Department unveiled a new logo for its Company 24 this week in a ceremony held at the Potomac Street fire hall. The event celebrated a collaboration between the fire department and art students at Waynesboro Area Senior High School. Three students and their teacher, who were instrumental in the design’s creation, were present for the reveal.
Fire Chief Ray Griffin presided over indoor festivities where firemen and elected officials mingled with proud families and friends seated between red fire engines. Before the artwork appeared in public for the first time, Griffin explained the meaning and purpose of the new logo and how the student partnership originated.
A unit logo, separate from a fire department’s official emblem, is a tradition that started in the 1970s when many military service members became firemen. “When I came here as fire chief, some of the guys came to me with the idea for a new logo for 24, knowing I came from a department where each company had a logo.” Waynesboro’s Company 24 is a new designation. “I told them I’d work on it,” Griffin said.
To start the process, Griffin went to the high school and spoke with an art teacher, Trish Morris, about incorporating the school mascot and colors into a design that would foster community unity and pride. Griffin enjoyed working with the students as logo ideas were submitted and refined, and pleased with the final result. “They came up with a truly amazing design, which we love,” Griffin said, “and today we unveil the logo and recognize the students’ efforts who made it possible.”
Art teacher Morris made a few remarks and introduced the three students, Lylah Curry, Marlie Fitzwater and Daphne Herd Kurns, who stood poised for the unveiling. “I was very excited about the idea of doing this in our class,” Morris said. “We loved having an opportunity to do something meaningful for the community.” Morris shared her enthusiasm with students and tasked them with a special assignment. After the fire department chose the winning design, the students conquered artistic and technical challenges to finalize the new emblem. The group was thrilled with the polished result. “We’ve been looking forward to this moment for months,” Morris said.
The trio of students let the artwork speak for itself as they pulled a rope to drop a white cloth that concealed their design, painted on a fire truck. The audience applauded when the logo appeared. The new design incorporated elements and colors from the high school’s Native American-themed emblem, with a warrior profile encircled within an arrowhead background.
The fire department recognized the three students’ artistic efforts with award certificates, a patch of their design, a handsome medallion and a yellow t-shirt bearing their logo on the back.
The three newly minted designers and their teacher then posed for group pictures with Chief Griffin and firefighters. Borough Council Members Dade Royer, Jon Fleagle, Mike Cermak, Pat Fleagle, Borough Manager Jason Stains and Waynesboro School Superintendent Dr. Rita Sterner-Hine also congratulated the WASHS’s quartet.
After the ceremony, the artists and their teacher commented on their creative experiences that resulted in the finished logo. Daphne Herd Kurns helped with technical aspects to help speed up the process of preparing the completed design. Marlie Fitzwater and Lylah Curry presented dual ideas, later combined into the final logo. When considering her future after school, Marlie said, “I want to do something artistic.” As the design evolved, Lylah wasn’t sure how it would turn out but was happy with the result. Morris shared her wisdom from 24 years of teaching and expertly guided the students since she’d helped create many other logos.
The new emblem represents a long legacy of firefighting in the Waynesboro community, which dates to the town’s 1818 incorporation. For over 200 years, both volunteers and borough-employed firemen have protected the city. As fire apparatus has evolved with improved technology over two centuries, advancing from horse-drawn wagons to sleek fire engines, one constant aspect is the tireless commitment for public safety shown by local firefighters.
With a new logo to celebrate that continuing pledge, fire engines from Station 24 will roll into action with a new sense of identity and pride. The three talented Waynesboro artists, in partnership with their teacher and fellow art students, will always relish this accomplishment. Created through an exceptional collaboration, this artwork blends the promise of Waynesboro’s future artists with the dedication of today’s firefighting heroes.
When asked how his leadership role was progressing, Fire Chief Ray Griffin said he was pleased with overall progress since he took the helm in July 2024. His smile and easy manner were signs of satisfaction for an event that brought the community together to celebrate the new Company 24, another chapter in Waynesboro’s long history of firefighting.
