AUGUSTA — The Legislature’s Transportation Committee voted Jan. 20 in favor of a bill sponsored by Sen. Chip Curry, D-Belfast, that honors a firefighter in Unity. 

LD 1839, “Resolve, To Name a Bridge in the Town of Unity the Alton ‘Mac’ McCormick Memorial Bridge,” received a strong bipartisan vote of 12-1.

“Our communities are built on the service and sacrifices of individual heroes,” said Sen. Curry. “As Assistant Fire Chief, Alton ‘Mac' McCormick committed himself to serve the people of Unity. His service and heroism are inspiring. It is really humbling to me to work on this legislation to rename a bridge over the same stream where Mac acted to save the lives of children yet tragically lost his life.”

Alton McCormick was the Assistant Fire Chief in Unity in the fall of 1954 during Hurricane Carol and Hurricane Edna. Maine was battered by these storms, and floodwaters trapped dozens of families.

In Unity, a family of 10 was trapped on top of a car, and neighbors built a human chain to try to rescue them. Nine family members survived, but unfortunately one of the children and Mr. McCormick lost their lives in the flood.

In the aftermath, Alton McCormick was posthumously awarded the first-ever Civilian Citation for Bravery by then-Gov. Burton Cross.

LD 1839 would rename Bridge 5228 as the Alton “Mac” McCormick Memorial Bridge. This bridge carries U.S. Route 202 and State Route 9 in Unity over the Sandy Stream.

LD 1839 now faces votes in the Senate and House.