On Friday November 6th nine new Holyoke firefighter recruits were sworn in and six new promotions were announced in the apparatus bays of the Fire Headquarters on High Street.

The ceremony was held before a crowd of family, friends and fellow firefighters.

"Today we are here for a swearing in ceremony for firefighters, one of the world's most honored but dangerous occupations," City of Holyoke Mayor Morse said. "It is a great honor to have this opportunity to swear in these firefighter recruits of the Holyoke Fire Department."

Fathers, sons, wives, mothers, girlfriends and a grandfather had the honor of the pinning the badges before the crowd, Holyoke Fire Chief John A. Pond, the Holyoke Fire Commision and State Representitive Aaron Vega.

The new recruits are as follows:

• Firefighter Matthew Cadiex
• Firefighter Kelvin Maldonado
• Firefighter Joshua Croake
• Firefighter Matthew Morse
• Firefighter Michel Daly
• Firefighter Michael Rohan
• Firefighter Erryberto Izquierdo
• Firefighter Joshua Rondeau
• Firefighter Christopher D'Angelo

Promotion were as follows:

• Captain Mark Fortin to Deputy Chief
• Lieutenant Chris Butler to Captain
• Lieutenant David Rex to Captain
• Firefighter Ethan Ledoux to Lieutenant
• Firefighter Chad Cunningham to Lieutenant
• Firefighter Andrew Lafrennie to Lieutenant

Click here to view pictures from the ceremony