Wilton’s Fire Department welcomed four impressive new firefighters to their force on Friday, Aug. 14, at an induction ceremony that was attended by many town officials, fire and police officers (including some from surrounding towns) and family members of the new first responders.
In fact, ‘family’ was a much touched-upon theme during the morning’s event, starting with remarks made by Gary Mecozzi, the chairman of the Wilton Fire Commission.
“We’re bringing in new people to our fire family, and we’re bringing in new people to our town,” he said.
First selectman Bill Brennan echoed that sentiment when he talked about Wilton being a family town. “It’s critical to get the best, to keep the families who live in this town safe.” He also mentioned the many police officers who attended, noting that, “The police and firefighters work very close together here in Wilton, and we are very proud of that relationship.”
Wilton’s fire chief Ron Kanterman acknowledged the way Wilton’s firefighters do vow to protect town residents, as he welcomed the four new firefighters to their ranks. “While these men who we swear in today have varied backgrounds and experience in the fire service, they have all vowed the same thing as we have: to make a difference in the lives of the people we serve and, in most cases, strangers who we’ve never met. We’ve promised to get in between people and their problem and make their problem go away, no questions asked.”
Kanterman called each of the four new department members–Eric Tucker, Noah Fouad, Donald Scarpetti and John Edwards–to take the oath and have badges pinned on by their family members. As he did so, Kanterman listed each of their job histories and training, noting that the four men were standouts and highly qualified new members of Wilton’s department.