LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Louisville Fire Department promoted 11 firefighters on Wednesday as part of a pinning ceremony.

Five firefighters were promoted to captain, four were promoted to sergeant, one to major and another to assistant chief. 

"We have high expectations of you because of what has gone before, but we know you're going to live up to it. You have shown throughout your career thus far that you're prepared and we appreciate that," Louisville Fire Chief Brian O'Neil said at the ceremony. "Congratulations for living up to this and taking that next step. We have high expectations but we have no doubt that you're going to live up to it."

Aaron Botner, who has served for 10 years, was promoted to captain and company commander. He comes from a lineage of firefighters.

Botner's grandfather spent decades as a firefighter while his father retired six years ago at the rank of Lt. Col. Also, Botner's twin brother was promoted to captain about a year ago. On Wednesday, Botner was recognized 

"It's a great honor to be recognized here today, when I got promoted to sergeant about four years ago I wasn't able to do this because of the COVID restrictions going on," Botner said. "This was really my first promotion ceremony, it's been great."

Botner's family, including his two children, attended the ceremony.

"They were the loudmouths in the back," he said. "They had a blast, clapping and everything."

Family members and loved ones of firefighters participated in the pinning ceremony. 

"Special thanks goes out to these families and the loved ones of these firefighters being promoted," O'Neil said. "It's a tremendous sacrifice that we do when we go to work, but it's a tremendous sacrifice you give when your loved ones are gone 24 hours at a time, sometimes even longer."

Last week, Louisville Fire Department celebrated the graduation of Recruit Class 189, which included 26 recruits. Each recruit class has to go through six months of extensive physical training, as well as written testing.

To learn more about Louisville Fire, click here. 

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