FIRE COMMISSIONER NICHOLAS SCOPPETTA TO PRESIDE OVER GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR 163 PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTERS

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta tomorrow will join family, friends and Fire Department members in paying their final respects to Firefighter Christian P. Engeldrum of Ladder Company 61 in the Bronx. Firefighter Engeldrum, a sergeant in the Army National Guard, was killed on November 29 outside of Baghdad, Iraq when the vehicle he was riding in was bombed. He was 39-years-old and a 5 ½ year veteran of the Fire Department. Firefighter Engeldrum is survived by his wife Sharon and their two sons.

WHAT:	Graduation Ceremony for 163 Probationary Firefighters
WHERE:	Whitman Hall, Brooklyn College ( Nostrand Avenue @ Avenue H)
WHEN:	Thursday December 16, 2004 , 11am
WHO:	Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, FDNY Chief of Department Peter Hayden, FDNY Chief of Operations Salvatore Cassano, 163 Probationary Firefighter Graduates, hundreds of family members and friends, other top FDNY Officials.

Press Contact: Francis X. Gribbon / David Billig (FDNY) (718) 999-2056

http://www.nyc.gov/fdny