Danvers Honors Fallen Police, Firefighters With Memorial Flags

DANVERS, MA — Danvers will honor its two line-of-duty fallen first responders — as well as

honor all firefighters and officers who have died as a result of serving their communities nationwide — with the flying of memorial flags at the police station and two fire stations throughout this week.

The remembrance is part of the National First Responders Day observance on Oct. 28, which the United States Congress passed a resolution recognizing in 2017. The Danvers flags will fly at the police station at 120 Ash Street and fire stations at 64 High Street and 460 Maple Street.

Danvers Police Officer George Nowak (heart attack) and Firefighter Matt Smith (cancer) served the town of Danvers, with distinction, for 22 years and 17 years, respectively, before their deaths. They are the two Danvers first responders officially recognized by their respective national organizations for their ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial flag will fly at the police station. The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial flag will fly at the fire stations.

"The town, the police department and the fire department fly these flags to honor all firefighters and officers who have died in the line of duty while proudly serving their communities," town officials said.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)