Firefighters sworn in, celebrated at annual recognition night

LAKEVILLE — Lakeville Fire Department celebrated service to the community at the third annual Recognition Night held Tuesday, Aug. 22 at the Lakeville Council on Aging.

The event brings firefighters, their families, friends, and town officials together to review the individual and department accomplishments over the last year.

The evening kicked off with Fire Capt. Dave DeBest escorting the members into the building with “Scotland the Brave” on the bagpipes. Miss Lakeville Lily Jeswald performed the national anthem.

Chief Michael O’Brien welcomed guests to the event and explained the purpose of the evening to first-time participants. The department paid tribute to former Chief Doug Mills and former Chief Engineer Roger Hamilton, who passed away this year.

O’Brien and Deputy Fire Chief Pamela Garant presented a few of the department’s significant emergencies of the year, describing all the factors that led to a successful response by the Department.

The highlight of the evening was the swearing-in of new members.

They are: Full-time firefighters Patrick O’Donovan and Neil Severance and call firefighters Michael Cleary; Matthew Mokeler; Jaclyn Pierce; Jeffrey Stokes and Matthew Stoddard. 

O’Brien thanked Senior Center Director Lori Fahey for attending the event and for making the facility available and Assistant Town Clerk Kim DeGrazia for administering the Firefighter’s Oath of Service.

He also thanked Select Board Chair Brian Day for attending and for his remarks to those in attendance. Also in attendance were Town Administrator Ari Sky and former Select Board member Rich LaCamera.

Department members would like to again extend their gratitude to the community for the continued support and resources, O’Brien said.