The Gray Fire Department welcomed three new firefighters at a graduation ceremony recently held at the W.E. Knox Civic Center.
Gray Fire Chief Keith Eisele gave the opening remarks at the May 21 event and congratulated the three graduates: Firefighters Jordan Harris, Caroline Thompson and Sage Mueller.
He recalled their 18 weeks of training that started Jan. 4.
“Over the next four months of intense training, our instructors developed a well-organized team,” he said.
Eisele said, as their training progressed, he recognized the recruits were developing bonds to help each other through the program.
“It’s a long and extremely difficult course with state exams and skills at the end,” the chief said.
He said 14 individuals started the course in January and the three recruits were the only ones to complete it.
Eisele also thanked the instructors who worked with the recruits: Deputy Chief Karl Zimmer, Capt. Heather Johnson, Sgt. Brandon Perry, Sgt. Aubrey Register and Sgt. Mark Husted.
Following Eisele’s opening remarks, Zimmer welcomed the graduates into the firefighter family.
The graduates received their badges from family members during the pinning ceremony and were given the Firefighter’s Oath.
At the conclusion of the graduation ceremony, Eisele congratulated the graduating class of 2022–1 and introduced the new firefighters.
