MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Family members, city leaders, and the community gathered Monday to celebrate the graduates of the McAllen Fire Department Academy, marking a significant milestone in the city's commitment to public safety.

The ceremony highlighted the graduates' months of training and dedication to the academy.

During the ceremony, 13 graduates took the official oath of office to join the McAllen Fire Department.

Xavier Villanueva, a newly sworn McAllen firefighter, says that he knew from a young age that he wanted to pursue a career in public service.

"Growing up with a family member in the department, I got to know some of the guys and what their beliefs are, and what they stood for," Villanueva said. "It motivated me to apply and to help carry on the legacy here."

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