On April 24, 2018 the Gallup Fire Department proudly recognized 10 Firefighters who completed their first year of service with the Gallup fire department and 3 Firefighters who completed 10 years of service during a badge pinning ceremony and open house at Fire Station 1.

Deputy Chief Jesus Morales and Assistant Chief Michael Hoffman presented each firefighter with their individual badge. While firefighters held their badges in their left hand, they raised their right hand and took the oath of service as led by the Honorable Judge Grant L. Foutz.  The badge was then pinned to their uniform by family members.

The badge is not just a piece of metal. It is a symbol that carries several hundred years of heritage and obligation. It is an acceptance of responsibility and the acquisition of a long tradition of service, it’s a symbol of commitment with a rich history. The shield that was once used to protect an individual in battle now symbolizes of the responsibility of contemporary firefighters—to place themselves between an emerging catastrophe so lives and property can be saved.