Fundraiser For Firefighter Family: SHCO 'Overwhelmed' By Support

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — A weekend fundraiser for the family of fallen Havre de Grace firefighter Lt. Nathan Flynn resulted in an overwhelming show of support, according to the Susquehanna Hose Company. Flynn, 34, died in a seven-alarm fire in Clarksville while working as a career firefighter on July 23 for the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services.

Flynn lived in Havre de Grace with his wife, Celeste, and their family of five children.

A 13-year veteran of the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services, he was the first career firefighter to die in the line of duty in the history of the department. Flynn also volunteered with the Susquehanna Hose Company and Harford County Technical Rescue Team.

At a celebration of his life last weekend, Flynn's fellow firefighters pledged to take care of his family and step up to assist in any way they could.

To that end, the Susquehanna Hose Company hosted a fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 4, at Division 1, the firehouse on North Juniata Street. People could have thin red lines put on their vehicles for a donation, with all proceeds going to the Flynn family.

Shoreline Emergency Vehicle Graphics put together the decals for the Thin Red Line Fundraiser, which also included t-shirts, drink holders, wreaths and flags featuring the thin red line.

Since firefighters are said to bleed red like police bleed blue, the thin red line is a symbolic reminder of the "bit of themselves that the firemen gave to the fire service," a representative from Shoreline Emergency Graphics told Fox 45, which reported the goal of the event was to raise $10,000.

A pit beef sale with donations going to the Flynn family sold out by 12:30 p.m. and so did some of the other merchandise, a half hour before the fundraiser closed, the fire company reported.

"We’d like to express our everlasting gratitude for the support at the Back The Flynns - Thin Red Line Fundraiser today," the Susquehanna Hose Company said in a statement afterward. "The community’s care, compassion and generosity will forever be remembered and appreciated. We are truly overwhelmed by the support. We love our town."

Memorial t-shirts remain available for sale for $24 online at Barbells and Badges.

Other merchandise is available through Creative Name Engraving.

For those who would like to give to the Flynn family online, there is a donation page through GoFundMe. The goal of the page is to raise $150,000, and as of Aug. 6, more than $138,000 has been donated.

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Photo of memorial for Lt. Nathan Flynn in Howard County by Elizabeth Janney.