Fallen North East firefighter Shawn Giles to be honored at memorial ceremony in Maryland

Tim Hahn, Erie Times-News
·1 min read

A North East fire policeman killed when he was struck by a car while directing traffic in August will be honored at a ceremony in Maryland this weekend.

Firefighters pay respects as the body of Fuller Hose Co. volunteer Shawn Giles, 53, is taken to a funeral home in North East on Aug. 21. On Aug. 20, Giles was assisting Pennsylvania State Police, who were investigating a two-vehicle crash at Route 20 and South Brickyard Road, by directing traffic in the eastbound lanes of Route 20 when he was struck by a 2007 Lexus RX350 driven at a high rate of speed.

Shawn Giles is among 89 firefighters who died nationwide in 2023 to be honored during the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The ceremony will also recognize 137 firefighters who died in previous years, according to organizers.

Six firefighters from Pennsylvania, including Giles, will be honored during the ceremony, which begins with a candlelight service on Saturday night and includes a memorial service on Sunday morning, hosted by actor Jeremy Holm.

Giles died after he was struck by a car on the early afternoon of Aug. 20 as Giles directed traffic around an accident scene at the intersection of Route 20 and Brickyard Road in North East Township. The driver accused of striking him, Dawann M. Simmons, 41, of Erie, is free on bond awaiting trial on charges including homicide by vehicle and homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence.

Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNhahn.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Fallen North East firefighter to be honored at ceremony in Maryland