ROANOKE COUNTY (WSLS 10) - After months of training, the Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department graduated more than a dozen volunteers on Wednesday night.
The fire chief and other leaders pinned 16 volunteers at a ceremony at the South County Library.
Chief Stephen Simon said his favorite part is actually watching the audience.
"The families coming down, because the individual is excited about graduating, but the families the glow in their eyes, it's really uplifting to see, because they are so proud of their son or daughter of getting pinned," Simon explained.
Among those pinned was Jacob Dodson.
He signed up to volunteer after Roanoke County first responders delivered his son in 2016 on his kitchen floor.
Those first responders were honored at the 2017 Red Cross' annual Celebration of Heroes breakfast.