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Firefighter I Graduation Ceremony - Class #1500
Press Information Memorandum
Fire Fighter 1 Graduation Ceremony - Class #1500
Monday, November 22nd, 2010
Salem Community College’s Davidow Theater
In today’s world of dwindling volunteers in the fire service, the Salem County Fire Academy recently graduated sixteen new volunteers who have joined the “Brotherhood”. The fire fighter recruits recently completed a rigorous 175 hour course which spanned over five months. The recruits were exposed not only to the required firefighter basic academy education and skills, but were also trained in military decorum, physical training and military drill. These ideals are meant to instill a sense of pride, teamwork and comradery as well as reinforcing the concepts of respect and command structure that is an integral part of the fire service.
The latest cadre of new volunteer fire fighters took their oath during a ceremony held at the SCC Davidow Theater on Monday, November 22nd before a crowd of family, friends, fellow fire fighters and dignitaries. The class was led into the theater by members of the Camden County Emerald Society Pipes & Drums. The invocation was once again eloquently delivered by the Rev. Dr. Holland Fields of the Mt. Pisgah AME Church in Salem. A tribute to fallen fire fighters honored those who have made the supreme sacrifice with a moment of silence and the playing of “Amazing Grace” by the Emerald Society’s Pipes & Drums. Those gathered were led in the Pledge of Allegiance by FF Gregory Cooper. Director of Emergency Services, Jeffrey Pompper, acknowledged the class’ accomplishments, thanked the recruits for their commitment and urged them to continue in their fire service education, citing the fact that this achievement marks only the beginning of their fire service education and training. Freeholders Julie Acton, Bruce Bobbitt and Dale Cross represented the Board of Chosen Freeholders with Freeholder Cross offering words of praise to the recruit class for their accomplishments as well as a word of thanks for their commitment and dedication as volunteer fire fighters.
The Public Service Electric & Gas Nuclear Fire Department sponsors an award given to the firefighter recruit in each of the Firefighter 1 programs, who displays the highest level of dedication & commitment to the educational requirements, as well as their skill set, during a FF1 class. The recipient is chosen by the Academy’s instructor staff. The recipient of the PSEG Nuclear FD – Instructors Award, was presented to FF John Starcevich of the Deepwater Fire
Department. FF Starcevich received his award from Chief John Carlin & Training Chief Ken Gralley of the PSEG Nuclear FD. Chief Carlin on behalf of the FD department personnel and PSEG’s management, thanked all of the recruits for their dedication to the educational process and congratulated them on their accomplishments.
The evening’s keynote speaker was the City of Wilmington Fire Department’s Chief of Fire, Willie J. Patrick, Jr. Chief Patrick’s message to the graduating fire fighters was two fold. He urged them to formulate a professional development plan and continue to attend fire fighter certification training sessions and also strive to gain opportunities in higher education. Chief Patrick remarked that he took that proactive mindset when he entered the fire service with Wilmington in 1980 and successfully moved up through the ranks attaining the Chief of Fire appointment in 2007. Patrick closed his remarks by urging the new fire fighters to strive to be the best fire fighter you can be, constantly educate and train, but most importantly do all that you can to Be Safe and go home after each alarm.
The graduates were congratulated on stage, after receiving their certificate packets, by the Director of Emergency Services, Jeffrey Pompper, Chief Patrick, Freeholders Acton, Bobbitt & Cross and Deputy Fire Marshal Jeffrey Hoffman. The recruits were also presented with a special New Jersey Senate / Assembly Citation memorializing their achievements. The certificate awarding saw many of the fire fighters receiving their envelopes from family members. One especially moving presentation came when Thomas Mattson presented his daughter, Jessica Mattson of the Harmony Fire Company of Harrison Township, with her certificate. Mr. Mattson, a former fire fighter, asked to speak briefly and remarked about how surprised he was that his daughter chose to become a fire fighter, making her a fourth generation fire fighter in the family. He thought it fitting at the ceremony to present to his daughter the fire fighter badges worn by her Great Grandfather, Grandfather and Father.
During the ceremony special recognition and achievement awards were also presented. Awards for Perfect Attendance, Academic Excellence, Health & Fitness and other special achievements were doled out by the Fire Academy staff. The recipients of the awards were:
Perfect Attendance Recognitions-
FF William Bill, III (Monroeville Fire Company)
FF Vaughn M. Chase (Deepwater Fire Department)
FF Michael Fogg (City of Salem Fire Department – Washington)
FF Steven Gorman (Deepwater Fire Department)
FF Zachary Inman (Deepwater Fire Department)
FF Alan Parkell, II (Pennsville Fire & Rescue Co. #1)
FF Cody Sooy (Deepwater Fire Department)
FF John Starcevich (Deepwater Fire Department)
FF Jacqueline Wolfe (Carneys Point Fire Department)
Academic Achievement Award –
FF Vaughn M. Chase (Deepwater Fire Department)
Lead Instructor’s Award for Dedication and Motivation -
FF Jacqueline Wolfe (Carneys Point Fire Department)
Lead Instructor’s Special Leadership Award –
FF Gregory Cooper (Pennsville Fire & rescue Co. #1)
Battalion Chief Excellence –
FF Eric Guglielmo (Deepwater Fire Department)
Members of the Fire Fighter 1 graduating class were as follows:
FF 1 Program Graduates
Class #1500
William Bill, III Monroeville Fire Company
Vaughn M. Chase Deepwater Fire Department
Gregory Cooper Pennsville Fire & Rescue Co. #1
David Curione Carneys Point Fire Department
Michael Fogg Salem City FD - Washington Co. #3
Justin Folwell Willow Grove Fire Company
Steven Gorman Deepwater Fire Department
Eric Guglielmo Deepwater Fire Department
Zachary Inman Deepwater Fire Department
Jessica Mattson Harmony Fire Company (Harrison Twp. Gloucester County)
Alan Parkell, II Pennsville Fire & Rescue Co. #1
Cody Sooy Deepwater Fire Department
John Stranahan, Jr. Carneys Point Fire Department
John Starcevich Deepwater Fire Department
Jacqueline Wolfe Carneys Point Fire Department
Joseph Zirkle Greenwich Fire Company (Cumberland County)
