FIRE COMMISSIONER NICHOLAS SCOPPETTA TO PRESIDE OVER GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR 231 PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTERS

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta tomorrow will preside over a graduation ceremony for 231 Probationary Firefighters. The “Probies” have successfully completed the rigorous 12-week training program and will now be assigned to fire companies throughout the five boroughs. Tomorrow’s class includes one woman, Probationary Firefighter Daiana Mielnik, who follows in the footsteps of her sister Firefighter Kinga Mielnik, making them the first “sister-sister” firefighter team in the Department’s history. In addition, Probationary Firefighter Brian Flanagan will graduate making him the fourth generation of Flanagan’s to join the FDNY.

The graduating class also includes 13 firefighters who previously served in the military overseas. Prior to graduation, the probationary firefighters created a fund to raise money to purchase cooling vests to send to Fire Department members currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan . The class raised more than $1,000 to purchase 10 vests. Also among tomorrow’s class are four firefighters who lost loved ones among the 343 firefighters who gave their lives on September 11, 2001 .

WHO:	Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, Chief of Department Peter Hayden, Chief of Operations Salvatore Cassano, Senior FDNY Officials, members of graduating class and hundreds of family members and friends
WHAT:	Graduation Ceremony for 231 Probationary Firefighters
WHERE:	Walt Whitman Hall - Brooklyn College, Nostrand Avenue / Avenue H
WHEN:	Wednesday, June 8, 2005 at 1:00 PM

PHOTO OP

Contact: Francis X. Gribbon and Virginia Lam (FDNY) (718) 999-2056

http://www.nyc.gov/fdny