Selectmen, Fire Chiefs Honor Retired Firefighter Brothers for Combined 58 Years of Service (Video)

It was a packed house at Monday night's Board of Selectmen meeting as fellow firefighters, friends and family members came out to honor two firefighter brothers who both recently retired from the .

Assistant Fire Chief Michael Patterson explained that while the has traditionally brought retiring or recently retired members before the board for recognition of service, the fire department has not normally done so. Patterson said he and Chief Steven Yetman recently decided to change that and give retirees this honor.

"We thought it was a great idea and we wanted to continue that tradition in the fire department," Patterson told the board. "We introduce you to our new hires and we thought we would reintroduce you to them as they retire."

Yetman then took center stage to reintroduce the retirees, David and Paul Sullivan, to the board. David first joined the department on Nov. 3, 1980 and retired on Nov. 3, 2011 after 26 years of service. Paul joined the department on July 9, 1979 and retired on Feb. 1 of this year after 32 years of service.

"Combined, they have over 58 years of service," Yetman said. "And they followed in the footsteps of their father Bob Sullivan, who was a firefighter from 1962 to 1988. This is the first time in over 50 years there won't be a Sullivan in the department."

Yetman said that both David and Paul were original members of the Burlington Fire Department Honor Guard and were both heavily involved in the Muscular Dystrophy Association's "Fill the Boot" campaign. Paul was also chairman of the department's MDA committee and the Burlington Firefighters Local 2313 treasurer. 

Following Yetman's address to the board, the two retired firefighters were honored with plaques for their service and were thanked warmly by everyone in attendance by applause.

See the video on the right for the handing out of the plaques.

Comments for Burlington's retired firefighters on their years of service? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.