PORT TOWNSEND — Six new badges prompted smiles, tears and excitement at Henry Miller Fire Station, but the biggest surprise was an engagement ring.
East Jefferson Fire-Rescue Firefighter/Paramedic Debbie Randall, Firefighter/EMT Trevor Bergen, Firefighter/EMT Justin Fletcher, Firefighter/EMT Carl Tesch, Firefighter/EMT Curtis Sanders and Firefighter/EMT Gavin Rogers received their permanent badges in front of approximately 100 friends and family members as they celebrated the end of their one-year probation with the district Sunday night.
Family members came up in front of the crowd, opened small boxes holding new badges and proudly pinned them to the chests of Jefferson County’s newest lifesavers.
Except for Rogers’ girlfriend, Kara Spray.
She opened the box to find an engagement ring.
Then, instead of being pinned, Rogers dropped to one knee and asked Spray to marry him.
She said yes.
“I called everyone up who was involved in the pinning ceremony and made sure I wasn’t going to be upstaging them,” Rogers said.
“It’s their night, too, and I didn’t want to steal their glory.
“They all said it was OK, and it was perfect. She’s been with me through all of this, and it seemed like the best time to propose.”
Rogers, 27, said Spray, 25, has been with him through his probation with the district, through five years of trying to get hired as a full-time firefighter and through a multitude of jobs that couldn’t be considered stable.
“I’ve had plenty of jobs throughout my 27 years, but none of them were a career like this,” Rogers said.
“And probation isn’t even certain, but when you do get that badge, it’s a milestone. You can start planning for the future.”
Assistant Chief Ted Krysinski said the proposal was very similar to a badge pinning in that it both are a huge commitments.
“You take that next step, and now the next part of your life is in front of you,” Krysinski said. “Just like a marriage proposal, a badge-pinning is a life event.
“You’ve put up with a year of good and bad, you didn’t get into trouble, and you proved yourself. And now you’ve done it, you’re here, and it’s a very exciting moment.
“Everyone in that room who wears a badge remembers that first moment.”
Rogers made a point of saying he wasn’t the only one with a story that night.
“I worked really hard to get that badge but so did all of us,” he said.
At East Jefferson Fire-Rescue, all newly hired career firefighters complete one year of study and testing to meet state and National Fire Protection Association standards.
The badge-pining event signifies commitment to the organization, to the public, and culminates in the recitation of an oath to that effect.
Krysinski said its emotional for everyone to make that commitment, even if it doesn’t come with a ring.
“This can be a tearful moment,” he said, “especially when the moms pin the badges on their sons or daughters.”
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
