Monday Dedicated to Deceased Hamden Volunteer Firefighter

For 85 years his name was forgotten, but no more.

On Monday, Mayor Scot Jackson proclaimed the day "Edward D. Meegan Day" in honor of the Hamden Volunteer Firefighter who lost his life in an accident involving the firetruck he was riding in while responding to a call.

"This is a tribute that is long overdue -- 85 years," said Fire Chief David Berardesca.

Nationwide there are about 100 firefighters killed year, he said, and "each one of them deserves recognition, each one deserves honor.

"The foundation of our department is built on people like Edward D. Meegan who made us what we are today," he said. "His death not in vain, that's for sure, because we've learned things from that -- every time there's a tragic accident in the line of duty, we learn from that."

According to the Hamden Fire Retirees Association website, "about three weeks ago, while researching old newspaper articles for our website, information surfaced about a Hamden volunteer firefighter who was killed in the line of duty, a tragedy that all living retired Hamden firefighters believed our town had never experienced in its 116 years of organized fire service."

Volunteers from Centerville Co. No. 4 were responding to a fire in Highwood when "at the Whitney Avenue bridge over Lake Whitney, the rear wheels of Co. 4’s Seagrave pumper got stuck in a raised trolley rail.

"The truck slued sideways for sixty feet before striking a utility pole, breaking it off at the base. Four of the seven firefighters on board were unhurt and two received minor injuries. The seventh firefighter, Edward D. Meegan, was hurled from the truck and died the next day from massive injuries."

For reasons unknown, his death was never marked by the department -- until now.

"I want to thank the retirees who did the research and realized that one of our own never got the recognition that they should have and brought the name of Edward D. Meegan back to our lexicon," Mayor Scott Jackson said.