By Joe Mario Pedersen
Orlando Sentinel
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A new Orange County firefighter had barely started his first shift when his crew gave him a surprise from his father and his new Fire Rescue family Monday night.
Firefighter Greg Ferone was among the 41 new OCFR’s recruits who graduated Friday at Valencia College. As part of the ceremony, members of Class 84 were honored with ceremonial pins given to them by family members who served in the military, fire rescue or law enforcement.
Ferone’s father, Ed, is a retired Army captain who served during the Vietnam War. However, Ed had been hospitalized since November and was unable to give his son a pin.
But members of Station 30, where Ferone is assigned, intervened. They called Ferone’s mother, Debbie, Saturday and requested to have a special ceremonial pinning at her home, so Ed could honor his son.
On Monday evening, Ferone and crew members were told to mobilize on a call. Ferone grew alarmed when he noticed the call was bringing him to his parents’ house.
Inside the home were 30 of his OCFR crew mates and Ed waiting to give his son the ceremonial pin.
“I couldn’t put it together until my dad said ‘I finally get to give you this,’” Ferone said. “It was incredible. I had worked eight hours on my first day, and this is already the best thing that could’ve happened.”
Copyright 2019 The Orlando Sentinel
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