FINAL SALUTE
UPPER DARBY DEDICATES ROAD TO MEMORY OF FALLEN FIREFIGHTER MICHAEL MORGAN
UPPER DARBY >> A former Upper Darby fire chief who died in the line of duty will be formally recognized Saturday morning in the Drexel Hill community.
A portion of Garrett Road in the township will be honorably named The Deputy Fire Chief Michael P. Morgan Memorial Highway in honor of the over 30-year veteran of firefighting in the township. Morgan died in June 2016 after becoming sick following his response to two fire calls on May 3.
The honorary highway distinction will run on Garrett from Burmont Road to Lansdowne Avenue, an area immediately serviced by Morgan and his fellow firefighters of the Garrett ford Drexel Hill Fire Co.
“We have limited places where we can honor people,” said state Rep. Jamie Santora, R-163, of Upper Darby, who wrote the bill that was signed into law to grant the honorary designation. “Doing an honorary road naming on a state road is significant. It’s not temporary, it’ll be there forever.
“It will allow his name to be prominently displayed in an area where he gave back to his community.”
Members of Morgan’s family, firefighters from township fire departments and neighboring departments, township officials and the community-at-large are expected for the grand unveiling of the memorial highway sign dedication on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. The ceremony will take place at the corner of Garrett Road and Edmonds Avenue.
Morgan was previously honored posthumously in the township in September 2016 when his name was added to the wall of heroes at the Drexel Hill Middle School Heroes Courtyard. The name of a hero to the Upper Darby community is added every year as a tribute to those who died in the 9/11 attacks. Morgan’s mother, Geraldine, received a commemorative plaque on her son’s behalf at that heroes ceremony.
In 2013, Morgan was named the township’s firefighter of the year.