Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

Welcome to today's change of command ceremony.

Please rise for the entrance of the official party today.

Please be seated.

Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Neuroshaw Fire Department, I once again like to welcome you to today's change of command ceremony, where Fire Chief Andrew Sandor will relinquish command to Fire Chief Joseph Sinatra.

My name is Christopher Battle.

I have the honor of being the narrator for this ceremony.

Before we get started, I would like to recognize the dignitaries that we have in this room, the elected state, city, and local officials.

Thank you so much for being here.

We appreciate it very much.

Today's color guard is being executed by the honor guard of the Neuroshaw Fire Department.

Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the presentation of colors and remain standing for the invocation.

Let us pray.

Lord, we thank you for giving us this wonderful day and allowing us to commemorate and honor Chief Sandor as he steps out in retirement after 30 years to Neurush Fire Department, and welcome in Chief Joseph Sinatra as he assumes command as the fire chief for the city of Neurochau.

Lord, please look over Chief Sandor as he makes this transition to this next chapter in his life.

For 30 years, he has given dedication to the city and its department.

Please you give him your wisdom and your guidance as he navigates his next chapter.

To Fire Chief Joseph Sinatra, Lord, please look over him.

Give him your strength as he will need it in those challenging times, and give him your patience as he will also need it in those challenging times.

Please give him the clarity when he needs clarity, and please give him peace when he needs peace.

Please look over the Neuroshaw Fire Department.

Bless the men and women that work for it that risk their lives every day to help the citizens of Neurochell.

Please look over our beautiful city of Neurochell and all the citizens that call it home.

In the Lord's name we pray.

Amen.

Please be seated.

I know that some of you have been to one.

If you're in the military, some of you may be this is your first ever change of command you've seen.

The tradition of the change of command ceremony goes back to the time of the Roman legions where the passing of the commander's baton occurred in front of the troops to signify the leader who would take them in the battle.

The primary purpose of a change of command ceremony is to allow subordinates to witness the formality of command change from one officer to another.

These ceremonies serve to reinforce the unique responsibilities that is inherent in command and the significance of the commander or the chief of department.

We are about to come to the ceremony's most solemn moment, the actual passing of command.

The flag of the United States of America is used to symbolize the authority and accountability of command.

Transferring the colors during this ceremony symbolizes the relinquishing of command by Fire Chief Andrew Sandor, and by accepting the colors, Fire Chief Joseph Sinatra accepts command and confirms his total commitment to the firefighters and staff that he will command.

The passing of colors to the senior deputy chief and to the union symbolizes the commitment of both the city and the union to the mission of the fire department.

So if I can have Chief Andrew Sandor, Chief Sinatra, Deputy Chief Scott Bradley, and firefighter Richard Barn Jorney up on stage, please.

Sir, I relinquish command.

Aye, sir, I accept, ma'am.

I suck.

Ladies and gentlemen, we're gonna have some comments by some officials.

I would like to welcome up the mayor of Neurishell, Mayor Yudir Ramos Herbert.

Good afternoon, everyone.

On behalf of the city council, and today I'm joined by my colleague Matt Stern.

But I know I speak for the entire council and really by extension all of our residents.

It's a bittersweet moment to say goodbye to Chief Sandor.

And I know we'll still see you.

I don't have the sense that you know how to sit still very well.

Um so I'm sure we'll still see you here in the community.

Um, but it's really exciting, Chief Sinatra, to welcome you and to see the leadership and the innovation and the forward thinking that you're gonna bring to this tremendous asset to our city, our firefighters, who are such a key component of public safety for us here in Urishelle.

As we continue to grow, we can't do it without you.

And the leadership that you're gonna bring is gonna help bring that city, our city rather, to this next chapter.

So we're so excited to see you and what you're gonna do to the for the fire department.

And to your lovely family, your wife and your children.

I want to proactively say thank you.

Um when dad and your husband is in this kind of leadership role.

I know it comes with a lot of great sacrifice.

I know you're holding down the fort quite a bit.

Um, and I know you're providing him with tremendous support that allows him to do the job.

And to the kids, your dad's awesome.

Like what a rock star.

Your dad is a real life hero, and we want to thank you for lending him to us and for letting him serve this city.

Without him, we would not be able to do so much.

So, in those moments when dad's not there, no, he's there with you, that he carries each of you in his heart as he also gives his heart and his intelligence and his bravery to the city of New Rochelle that we get to call home.

So I want to really just say thank you.

I know it's a lot, and we we won't be able to do it without your support.

So looking forward to this next era and everything you're gonna bring for us.

Thank you, Chiefs.

Ladies and gentlemen, the city manager for the city of Neurishell, Walfredo Melendez.

Thank you.

Thanks for joining us today for this great ceremony.

Um our time with Chief Sander at the helm for Neurochell Fire Department has been great and wonderful.

Has been great and wonderful.

It's been a privilege for me to work alongside him throughout the years here.

He's uh he's a real professional.

And he really conducts himself in a way that I really take really proud of, uh really proud to be uh working beside him every day.

Um we're gonna miss him.

Um and it's you know, good luck to you as you embark on a new chapter in your life.

Um, but you know, change is one of those things that happens, right?

It's inevitable that and it happens.

But uh, but change brings opportunity.

And I'm excited, really excited, looking forward to working with our incoming chief Sinatra to build on the work that Andy's been doing throughout these years.

Um you're gonna need a lot of support.

Um, but you you had a great mentor in Andy.

Um, and we're here for you as a staff to help you in this process.

Um, to your family.

Um, you could just talk to Andy.

I think we said it last night.

It's really it's a it's a family uh deal, it's a package deal, and um we're gonna need that support for you to provide to the chief, and um it's it's a lifelong journey, but it's great.

Um so the best of luck.

Uh looking forward to it, and Andy, the best of luck to you uh in your next new chapter.

Thanks.

Ladies and gentlemen, the new fire chief for the City of Nourishell, Chief Joseph Sinatra.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

First, I'd like to say thank you to all of our distinguished guests, our families, and the members of the Neurochell Fire Department.

Thank you for being here today to share in this changing of command ceremony.

I would like to thank the mayor, your dear remote Herbert, City Manager Wilfredo Melendez, and our elected state and city officials for their trust they've placed in me to serve as the chief and commissioner of this department.

It is truly an honor and a privilege.

Thank you.

To Chief Sandor and the Chiefs who came before him, thank you for your leadership and the solid foundation you've built.

I'm grateful to be following your footsteps and to be taking command of a department with such a proud history and reputation.

Thank you, Chief.

To my family, thank you for always supporting me and for standing by me through the long hours and missed events that will come with this opportunity.

I would not be here without you.

Thank you.

And to the members of the Neurochell Fire Department, you are the heart of this organization.

You answer the calls, you train, you take care of each other, and you take care of this community.

And I am proud to serve alongside of you.

Thank you.

As I assume command tomorrow, my vision for the department is simple.

Continue to grow our department as Chief Sandor has done.

An incredible job in increasing our manning numbers over the years.

Deliver safe discipline and professional operations on every call, even as our call volume continues to grow along with the city.

Build a culture of accountability and high professional standards.

Continue to modernize our operations with better use of technology and data.

And finally, continue to grow our great partnerships with both the fire department union and the city of Neurochell.

Again, thank you for this opportunity.

Thank you.

Pretty simple, but uh albeit important ceremony for the city and for the department to witness the chain actual change of command.

And uh as the mayor was alluding to, I need to stop not show up when Monday comes.

So um uh so no.

My my my heart will always be in Nourishelle.

Um helped me out at a tough time in my life.

Started going to Iona College and um been here ever since, you know, for over 40 years.

And uh just so many people and so many things to thank.

You know, I see the mayor and Matter here and Will, you know, police commissioner Neil Reynolds, uh, several executives from police department, uh, people from finance, DPW, Parks and Rec.

You know, it really is like a big family working here in City Hall.

And uh it's good stuff, and I think that's why the city's continued to move forward in a uh in the fashion that it has in a positive way.

Um certainly I need to thank my beautiful wife Robin.

Thank you, honey, for your love and support.

Uh my son Tyler and uh my daughter Hope uh couldn't make it this morning.

She's uh working.

Um then um, you know, as we talk about uh every family knows, you know, that's it's it's the fire department becomes like your family.

We spend so much time together.

Uh we share holidays together, uh, you know, good, bad, tough times, good times.

And uh it's a beautiful thing.

You know, we're really blessed to have been uh brought into this life.

And uh, you know, so the fire departments, my family, the deputy chiefs, you know.

I I've been telling people why why are you leaving?

Why are you leaving?

You like the job.

Um I'm in a good spot right now.

I've been blessed because you know I have a good succession plan here.

Couldn't ask for a better guy than Joe Sinatra to uh step up and leave the department.

And I'm not, you know, you know cowtowing on you and nothing like that, Joe.

You're you're a good man.

Don't I don't care what they say in the firehouse, you're a good man.

So uh no, so it's uh yeah, it's a good time to step aside.

You know, we we've uh kind of hit a uh few milestones as the city continues to grow and develop, yet maintain its character that it's had all this time.

It's the same people in Nourishelle.

No one's gone anywhere, okay.

And you know, people have to say whatever, you know, and and we just continue to progress and move forward, you know.

And um, that's the great thing about this.

You know, there's so much going on here in No Rochelle.

And we I just want to thank the citizens, you know, the mayor, the city manager for having faith in me to lead the department.

And uh, you know, as I said last night, you know, they do call it the Queen City of the Sound for a reason.

You know, we're in a beautiful spot here, you know, not far from New York City, yet, you know, we're suburban, you know, there's nice little quiet neighborhoods, and um it's been a true honor to protect this city.

It really has.

Um, to be entrusted we see people on their worst days of their life, uh sometimes.

And it's not easy, I said I wasn't gonna get mushy or nothing, but you get a little mushy when you see people having uh having troubles.

But knowing that our guys are there and they're trained and they're solid and you know, can deliver effective uh you know help to these people, it's a really good thing.

And uh that's why when when our guys come to work every day, I tell them just remember all you gotta worry about is today.

That's all we all need to worry about.

You know, don't worry about oh my god, what am I gonna do?

This is this here.

If I make it through today, I tell my wife gets tired of hearing this.

If I make it home tonight and you know, for dinner, I'll be very happy, you know, kind of thing.

And uh so uh not everybody uh gets that.

So enjoy the day.

That's that's all I can tell everybody leaving here.

Uh had a few guys pass away.

Well, I was chief, uh, Frank Strollo, uh, Andy DiMaggio, Curtis Taylor, and we prayed for them last night.

And uh just want to hope you guys uh don't forget these fellas, all right, because they gave their all to the city serving and uh end up getting illness and whatever and passed on.

Um but to finish up, I will always carry the memories and immense pride of the Nourish Hell Fire Department with me.

I thank God for this incredible journey and the people that have been part of it.

Thank you all for celebrating this milestone of our lives.

Thank you.

Stay safe.

Ladies and gentlemen, flowers are now being presented to Chief Sandor and Chief Sinatra spouses in recognition of their support and devotion to the husband's service to this department and to this city.