Fallen North East Firefighter Remembered

FALLEN NORTH EAST FIREFIGHTER RECOGNIZED  – Fifty-five years ago, on December 8, 1963, a sudden life-shattering tragedy occurred in a cornfield at the edge of Elkton.   On that stormy Sunday night over a half-a-century ago, Pan American Flight 214 circled in the night sky, waiting for orders to descend into Philadelphia International Airport.  Moments before 9 p.m., lightning struck the plane, and in in a few unimaginable, horror-stricken seconds, the big jet exploded in mid-air.   All 81 people aboard the doomed aircraft died when it struck the ground.  So many lives and families were shattered in those few moments. 

On December 8, 2013, the Cecil County community, first responders, and Flight 214 family members gathered at the Singerly Firehouse on Newark Avenue for the Flight 214 Remembrance Program to mark the passage of fifty years since the tragedy struck.  This program honored the memory of those who died on the plane, and it honored the emergency personnel who answered the alarm that night.  None of the firefighters and police officers will ever forget that rain-soaked night as they desperately searched for survivors in the debris scattered in the cornfield and other areas in the vicinity of Delancy Road in Elkton. 

Sadly, one more tragedy occurred that night as a North East Fire Company first responder fell in the line of duty.  Steward W. Goodwin, 56, rushed to the scene on the North East Ambulance as a general alarm went out for all available ambulances in Cecil County and nearby Delaware.  While searching the crash scene for survivors, he suddenly collapsed into the arms of a fellow North East Firefighter about 1:30 a.m.

That day in 2013 marked the passage of half-a-century and the Singerly Fire Company and Historical Society partnered together to host the family members as they returned to Elkton for the observance. The program at Station 13 went on and plans had called for an observance at the crash site on Delancy Road, but a paralyzing snowstorm made travel extremely dangerous . Thus the visit to Delancy Road was delayed until the next day. 

Now over fifty-five years later Firefighter Godwin’s ultimate sacrifice is being formally remembered.  On Friday, May 3, during the 34^th annual Fallen Heroes Day at Delaney Valley Memorial Gardens in Timonium Firefighter Goodwin and six other first responders were officially recognized. North East Fire Chief Michael Miller was on hand to receive a proclamation on behalf of Mr. Godwin.

Then, on June 2, 2019, at the Maryland Fire-Rescue Services Memorial Foundation in Annapolis Steward W. Godwin will be honored as this Cecil County hero’s name is added to the State Memorial.    

George Hollenbaugh, Vice-President of the North East Fire Company, developed the nomination for the company, working to make sure this fallen Cecil County firefighter will be remembered.  Chief Engineer Jeff Isaacs assisted him. 

It is important that we never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice serving our communities.   Thank you Chief Miller, Vice-President Hollenbaugh, and Chief Engineer Isaacs for working to make sure future generations of first responders and the citizens of Cecil County remember Mr. Godwin’s sacrifice for his community.