SPRINGFIELD - Nine newly minted firefighters were sworn in and three longtime members of the department were promoted during ceremonies Friday morning.
Both Fire Commissioner Bernard J. Calvi and Mayor Domenic Sarno, speaking in front of the Raymond M. Sullivan Public Safety Complex on Carew Street, thanked attending family members for their support.
"Welcome to the family," Calvi said. "Without the support of families, firefighters would be unable to complete their daily duties."
"I want to thank the families, as (Calvi) alluded to," Sarno said. "Your support and your efforts to stand by these brave gentlemen is essential. Every time that bell tolls they put their lives on the line to save structures and save lives."
Those promoted were: Robert McCaffrey, from captain to district chief; Michael Kneeland, from lieutenant to captain; and Leontino Piecuch, from lieutenant to captain.
McCaffrey, appointed to the department in 1993, will be assigned to training.
"I am looking forward to going back to training," said McCaffrey, who was pinned by his father, James McCaffrey, who retired as a lieutenant from the department.
Kneeland, with the department since 2002, will also be assigned to the training division.
"It's a lot of hard work and dedication," Kneeland said of all the studying and training that brought him to his new post. "But it pays off in the long run."
Kneeland, a third-generation firefighter, was pinned by his father, Daniel Kneeland, who retired from the department as a lieutenant.
"I am very proud of him, very proud," said the elder Kneeland. "He has it in his blood."
Michael Kneeland said his grandfather, David Hammerstrom, retired as a deputy chief.
Piecuch, with the department since 2011, will be assigned to Engine 8.
"It's awesome," said Piecuch of his promotion. "I feel really great. It took a lot of time and effort. I just hope I can live up to all that's expected of me."
"We are just very proud of them, all of them," said Piecuch's mother, Rosetta Piecuch. "We run away from fires, they run into fires. They are my heroes."
The nine new firefighters are: Patrick Drummond, assigned to Engine 8; Daniel Gramarossa, assigned to Engine 3; Nicholas Kelly, assigned to Engine 8; Brandon Lopez, assigned to Engine 3; Stephen Maldonado, assigned to Engine 9; Alex Rosado, assigned to Engine 10; Brendan Shea, assigned to Heavy Rescue; Michael Veto, assigned to Engine 8, Jeffery Meon, assigned to Engine 1.
"I feel really good," said Maldonado. "I worked really hard at this."
"I am really proud," said Maldonado's mother, Delilah Ruiz.