AFR Celebrates 100th Cadet Class with Memorial Run
Every class from Albuquerque Fire Rescue’s Fire Academy takes their “last run” before graduating and becoming sworn members of the department. In keeping with tradition, and honoring all the previous classes and graduates, a memorial last run was held to celebrate the occasion.
This event brought together new graduates, active members, retirees and tributes to the fallen from all Albuquerque Fire Academy classes since 1961. The 100 Cadet Classes don’t include the hundreds of firefighters that trained and served prior to classes being numbered from 1900 through 1960. It is important for all firefighters to remain humble, remember where they started, the intensity of the academy and oath they took to serve.
“We are currently hosting the 100th Cadet Class and using this historic event to reimagine an old tradition within our department, said Battalion Chief of Training, William McMullen. “We are inviting you back to the Academy to welcome the newest members of our department into the Fire Family, to remember how we all began, and to reunite with your own cadet classes in the first ever Memorial Cadet Run.”