Dad would be proud.

According to the Daily Freeman, Dutchess County resident Aric Tegtmeier lost his dad back on September 11, 2001. Paul Tegtmeier was from Hyde Park and a New York City firefighter who passed away when the World Trade Center’s twin towers collapsed.

His son Aric was 6 years old when 9/11 took place and on Wednesday his goal to follow in his dads footsteps was completed as he graduated from the New York Fire Department EMS Academy and was assigned to Station 27 in the Bronx.

Aric who lives in Salt Point and volunteers with the Roosevelt Fire Department in Hyde Park has said that he expects no special treatment at Station 27 when he reports for his first day on the job.

He told the Freeman that,

“It’s part of the brotherhood, I’m there to help them just like they would help me. It’s great to finally start to follow in my father’s footsteps and to start working for a great fire department.”

Aric also said that he decided after his father died that he wanted to be a firefighter and started his journey to do just that at the age of 14 when he first volunteered with the Roosevelt Fire Department as a Boy Scout, then when he turned 16, he became an adult volunteer.

Aric's first day on the job was yesterday (Thursday 2/10.)

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