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On July 3 the North Attleborough Fire Department honored North Attleborough officers, paramedics and firefighters. Chief Peter Lamb, Fire Commissioners Deanna McHoul-Welter, Valerie Hickey and Chairman Michael Coyle commended the men for their service, accomplishments, and dedicated time to one of Massachusetts' most reputable fire departments.
The 62 firefighters, a record number of honorees, were led into the North Attleborough Middle School by the Rhode Island Professional Bag Pipe and Drum Brigade. They arrived dressed in an assortment of uniforms, many in their official blues, some dressed for duty, before the large audience of family, friends, and fellow firefighters. The night featured guest speaker retired Deputy Chief William Park, who was greeted with an immediate standing ovation, who encouraged the honorees to appreciate the sacrifices of their wives and children, and the musings of Lamb, who incited the audience with an explanation of the Civil War origins of the Firefighter Pinning Ceremony.
Commissioner McHoul-Welter described positions within the North Attleborough Fire Department as some of the most sought after in the area. Firefighters are chosen not only for their status as a "good fit," but also for their intentions of remaining. Fittingly, many of the officers honored this night, were commended for the very staying power that kept them part of the NAFD.
Promotional honors were given to Captain Jack White, Lieutenant Mitch Meyer, and Lieutenant Richard Stack. Appointees were sworn in by Chief Lamb and received pins from chosen family members. Mark Renker was inducted as a firefighter and paramedic, pinned by his wife. Newly appointed firefighter and paramedic Scott Bumpus received his pin from his mother. Firefighter and paramedic Justin Picci was pinned by his father. Paul (PJ) Belham Jr., appointed call firefighter, received his pin from his father, Paul Belham, Sr. William Cavalieri, appointed call firefighter, received his pin from his grandfather, a retired firefighter.  
Those honored with Thirty Year Service Awards included Chief Peter Lamb, Michael Matros, Captain Peter Cullen, and Captain Richard Paquin.
The recipients of Twenty-Five Year Service Awards were Dale Collard, Captain Scott Meyer, Peter Nardelli, Jonathon Underhill, and Call Firefighters Wayne Hitchcock and John Maguire.
Twenty Year Service Award honorees were Dave Chretien, Mark Finnegan, Deputy Michael Brousseau, Brett Langille, Glenn Dwyer, Lieutenant Ronald Meyer, Michael Fulton, Richard Lambert, Lieutenant Ronald Darling, Captain John White, Lieutenant Mitchell Meyer and Dispatcher Thomas Kelly.
Fifteen Year Service Awards were given to Lieutenant Curt Chretien, Lieutenant Jeffrey Badger, Michael Dillon, Larry Silvestri, Richard McDonagh, Lieutenant Brian Brousseau, John Cooper, Lieutenant Glenn Lavery, Christopher Cornetta, Superintendent James Moriarty, Derek Sankey and Call Firefighter Stephen Baillargeon.
Ten Year Service Award honorees were Robert Gaulin, Shawn Brillon, Jeffrey McCall, Lieutenant Richard Stack, Christopher Coleman, Shad Blake, Michael Chabot, Ronald Burns, Richard Burns, Michael Mullen, and Scott Langille.
Honorees for the Five Year Service award were Eric Meyer, Michael Bristol, Scott McAuliffe, Michael Levasseur, William Hogan, Joseph Flynn, Michael Haueisen, George McKinnon and Dispatcher Eric Gouck.
During the ceremony, Lamb invited retired firefighters among the audience members to stand and be honored with applause.
The night was a poignant reminder of the dedication of North Attleborough's Fire Department. Many were thanked for the decades of their lives spent in a dangerous pursuit for others' safety. Some were there as the result of years spent volunteering after school.
Many firefighters were there as a legacy, the most recent in a long family line of firefighters.