Graduation of area firefighters celebrated

Posted by Press Release on November 20, 2015

The Chester County Department of Emergency Services (DES), Fire Services Division, held graduation for the Spring 2015 Firefighter I class. Twenty-six graduates were given their certification at a ceremony that was held at the Wagontown Fire Company on Thursday, Nov. 19, a county press release said.

Chaplain Jerry Schwartz, retired captain of the Baltimore City Fire Department and chaplain and safety officer for the West Chester Fire Department, addresses graduating firefighters. Photo courtesy of the Department of Emergency Services — Chaplain Jerry Schwartz, retired captain of the Baltimore City Fire Department, addresses graduating firefighters. *Photo courtesy of the DES*

Family, friends and fire company officials were on hand to witness the graduation and certification recognition. Chaplain Jerry Schwartz, retired captain of the Baltimore City Fire Department and chaplain and safety officer for the West Chester Fire Department was the guest speaker for the ceremony.

Schwartz asked the graduates, “Know who you are?” Then he answered: “You are a firefighter.”

Jun Oh Yoon of Fame Fire Company was chosen by his classmates as the class spokesperson. Department of Emergency Services Director Robert Kagel, Deputy Director for Fire Services George “Beau” Crowding, and Fire Training Coordinator Jeff Groves and Schwartz presented the graduates with their certificates.

Among the graduates were Gabriel Pepper and Kimberly Siegel of Longwood Fire Company and Ryan Large of Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company.