Contributed by:
angie valencia/valleynews.com
on 8/3/2007
We've all heard the term "Like father, Like son."
While many of us spend the majority of our adult lives trying to prove how different we are from our parents, the Delgadillo brothers are proud to follow in their father's footsteps.
Daniel Delgadillo Sr. was a firefighter with the Los Angeles City Fire Department for 17 years.
On Aug. 2, the Delgadillo brothers -
Timothy, 18;
Jonathan, 20;
Peter, 21; and
Daniel, Jr. 22 - came one step closer to accomplishing their goal of landing a job in the fire service.
The brothers graduated Aug. 2 from the Verdugo Fire Academy at Glendale Community College, having completed more than 500 hours of academic and hands-on training and being one step closer to their dreams of becoming firemen.
"All our lives, our father has been our role model, a leader, someone we can go to for answers," Jonathan said.
It is a sentiment shared by the rest of the Delgadillo clan.
"There's pictures of me in a fire engine with my brothers when we were small," said Daniel, Jr. "Pictures of us at the station with our dad. It's what we've grown up with. My dad is the biggest role model in my life. He's what I strive to be."
Their father beams with pride.
"At this point, I'm a very happy man to know that my children are pursuing such a great career," he said. "It's very honorable because it's a decision they've made on their own ... It was their choice."
Only a couple of years apart, the Delgadillo brothers have grown accustomed to doing everything together, including play high school football. So graduating in the same class from the fire academy was no different.
"We're there for each other," said Daniel, Jr. "We've got each others' backs."
Prior to joining the academy, the brothers volunteered together at Fire Station 44 in Los Angeles.While they were in the academy, they'd quiz each other just before a test and even worked out together.
"Firefighting is a family and we have a unique situation of family in this graduated class," said
Sam DiGiovanna, fire chief of the Verdugo Fire Academy, of the Delgadillo brothers, adding that the case was very unusual. "They will begin the road toward another family life within the fire department."
The brothers, he said, "were just like we are in the fire service. We look out after each other and take care of one another. There is no 'one' greater than the team. We are all team!"
The brothers will eventually go on to apply for positions with the Los Angeles City Fire Department. Timothy, Jonathan and Peter must first become emergency medical technicians (EMT). Daniel Jr. is already EMT-certified.
The Delgadillo brothers also have younger siblings
Joel, 15, and
Sarah, 13. There's hope that they, too, will join the fire service one day.
What does mom,
Julie, think about her four sons - all of whom live at home - being firefighters-in-training?
"She washes our uniforms and irons them," said Jonathan. "She's very supportive."
About 450 people attended the graduation on Aug. 2, including representatives of fire departments from Los Angeles City, Glendale, Burbank and Los Angeles County.
The next academy starts in January 2008.
For more information, call (818) 240-1000. The academy is sponsored by the Glendale Fire Department and Glendale Community College.