DENVER — Commencement ceremony season comes with caps, gowns, tassels and tradition.
For one class of Denver graduates, the uniform is more a way of life, and the tradition is service.
Often that service passes from one generation to the next, as it has for the Hall family.
"We’re here because my son Mark is graduating from the Denver Police Academy," said Denver Police Department Lieutenant Ed Hall. "And he’s the next generation to step in as a Denver police officer."
Lt. Hall is in charge of the Denver Police Department's Intelligence Bureau and has been with the department for 25 years.
Hall's son was one of 42 recruits who graduated from the Denver Police Academy Friday.
"I could not be more proud," said Lt. Hall. "Just a tremendous experience for me, something that I’ve taken great pride in my entire life. And to be able to see my son step in and to know what he’s going to experience over the next 30 or 35 years is just a phenomenal feeling."
Officer Mark Hall says he knew at an early age that he wanted to follow his dad into police work.
"I admired the profession and how everyone looked up to cops," said Ofc. Hall. "Having watched him interact with the community, it really gave me something to strive for and something that I wanted to be one day."
Both expect there will be plenty of career advice from Dad over the next few years.
"What a noble career to have your son choose," said Lt. Hall. "Work hard and treat everybody with respect - and come home every day."
SUGGESTED VIDEOS | Feature stories from 9NEWS