ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Seven members of the Rochester Fire Department were recognized on Friday, as family, friends and coworkers in the Public Safety Building Auditorium looked on.
Henry Willard III and Mark Pascuzzi were promoted to captain, and new lieutenants include Richard Liberatore, Dennis Hibbard, and Color Guard Firefighter Alicia Miller. The Rochester Fire Department also promoted Captain Joseph Luna III to Battalion Chief.
"It's not a job that you just come to, it's a career," said Miller. “You gain a family coming to this job. I eat sleep, live, work with a bunch of people on a regular basis who rely on each other for just about everything so you get a family out of the whole thing."
Luna spoke about the commitment shared by everyone in attendance.
"I think the reoccurring theme that you heard was family,” said Luna. “I think I can speak for every one of us when I say that we thank our families because the profession is one where you miss your kids' games sometimes, you miss birthdays or they have to be adjusted, Christmas dinners get put on hold, earlier or later based on your schedule. It's that kind of profession, so we thank our families on a day like today."