Emotional graduation as Birmingham honors fallen firefighter through outstanding recruit award
Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service honored a life taken too soon during its recruit school graduation at Boutwell Auditorium.
The department presented the Jordan E. Melton Award Thursday, recognizing an outstanding recruit.
Melton's mom, Rochelle Gaston Malone, said this recognition was bittersweet.
"It just stirred up a lot of feelings of me wanting Jordan to be here, however, the joy of knowing that he's being memorialized in this way brings a smile to my heart," Malone said.
The mother is smiling in the wake of tragedy after losing her son back in July.
Jordan Melton died from his injuries after he and fellow firefighter Jamal Jones were shot while working at Fire Station Nine. Jones survived his injuries.
While Melton is no longer here, the Birmingham Fire Department is determined to make sure he's never forgotten, creating an award in his honor.
"The recruit who will receive this award today embodies the qualities of who Jordan was," said Chief Cory Moon. "Jordan was a leader, he was a light, he was the future of the fire service."
According to the department, these standards are shared by recruit school graduate Byron Wesley.
He smiled alongside Melton's mother as he became the first recipient of this award.
"I was excited to meet the new graduate who received this award because it made me feel like a part of him was being passed on," Malone said. "So each year, I'll look forward to passing a part of him on continually."
Malone said giving this award in her son's honor filled her with many emotions, including pride.
She said it allows her to still have those "proud mama moments" even after her son's passing.