A record number of children of firefighters who were killed either in the September 11 terrorist attacks or from related diseases afterwards officially joined the New York City Fire Department on Tuesday.

At the graduation ceremony in Brooklyn, the largest number of “legacies” in department history were given a standing ovation. Of the 301 graduates, 21 of them are the children of fallen firefighters, and 12 are the sons and daughters of firefighters killed on 9/11.

Six of the graduates are the children of FDNY or police officers who died from diseases related to the 2001 terrorist attacks, while three are sons of emergency crew who died while in service.

“This class includes the largest group of legacies in Department history, with twenty-one of our Probies continuing the brave legacies of their fathers who gave their lives protecting our city,” said Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro.

Brothers Leonard Jr. and Anthony Ragaglia were two of the graduates, and they lost their father Leonard on 9/11. Describing his new job as a “dream come true,” Leonard Jr. said, “I’ve always wanted to be a Firefighter. I’ve always wanted to be like my dad and follow in his footsteps. I always hung around the firehouse as a kid and put his gear on. As the years went on, joining FDNY became something that I wanted to do more and more. I’m ready for this. It means so much, words can’t describe it.”

Robert Tilearcio Jr.’s father Robert died of an illness related to his efforts rescuing others from the World Trade Center.

“I wish he could be here when I graduate, but I know I am making him proud. I took the civil service test the same month my father died,” Robert Jr. said. “I knew he was happy to know I was heading in the right direction. He worked with the Department for 35 years. I was always at his firehouse and from a young age, I knew this is what I wanted to do. I’ll be thinking about him when I get to my first fire.”

Rebecca and Marc Asaro are another set of siblings who are following in the footsteps of their firefighter father Carl, who was also killed on 9/11.

“Every day that I came to the academy, I was grateful to be there and to follow in the footsteps of my father, brothers, uncle, and all those who came before,” Rebecca said. “This is exactly where I want to be.”

“It is an amazing experience, to be able to do the same thing that my father had done, and had given his life for,” her brother Marc added. “It’s more incredible that my sister and I are doing it together. It’s a proud feeling. My sister and I push each other to be better every day.”

Find out more about these amazing young men and women in the video below.