Betsy and John Mitchell should’ve been celebrating their daughter Sarah Mitchell’s 30th birthday last week. Instead, they tearfully convened at the Route 213 bridge over the Neshaminy Creek in Lower Southampton Township, which was recently renamed in her memory.
On July 8, 2018, Sarah, an ensign in the U.S. Navy, tragically lost her life at the age of 23 during a training exercise while serving on the U.S.S. Jason Dunham in Jordan on the Red Sea.
In order to keep Sarah’s spirit and strong commitment to serving her country alive in the community that she loved so dearly, state Sen. Frank Farry and state Rep. Joe Hogan introduced legislation to formally dedicate the bridge to her.
Last Monday, the Mitchell family, legislators, first responders, veterans and more gathered at the newly-dubbed Ensign Sarah Mitchell Memorial Bridge to reflect on her life and legacy.
“Sarah wasn’t just a loyal servant to our country,” said Farry. “She was a very well-respected member of our community.”
A native of Oakford, Sarah was a proud 2013 alum of Neshaminy High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and played numerous sports, including field hockey, basketball and track and field. She was also highly involved in her community, especially as an active member of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Feasterville.
In 2017, she graduated from Virginia Tech, where she served as a platoon commander for the Naval ROTC, with a degree in biochemistry and minor in chemistry and leadership studies. Shortly after, she secured her commission and reported to the U.S.S. Jason Dunham, which was deployed to the Middle East from Norfolk, Virginia. It was on this Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that she lost her life during a training exercise gone horribly wrong.
“Whenever somebody is putting on a uniform, whether it’s the armed services, law enforcement or our emergency medical services, firefighters, they don’t know what kind of call they’re responding to,” said Hogan. “And I think that’s important to remember in Sarah’s case. She wasn’t going necessarily into active wartime, but she served her country and she paid the ultimate sacrifice for that. So the least we can do as a community and as elected officials is this type of recognition for her so that her memory is never forgotten. And I know in Bucks County, it never will be.”
Farry added, “The dedication of this bridge, while a small reminder of Sarah to the community, literally will be seen by thousands of people as they traverse this bridge daily. We thought it was fitting to work with the Mitchell family, and we did this, of course, with their support to continue to honor Sarah.”
Other dedications in town include the Sarah Mitchell Community Center in the Lower Southampton Municipal Complex and a mural painted on the side of Poquessing Middle School.
Betsy, who fought through tears as she addressed those gathered, shared that Sarah would “truly love” having a local bridge — especially one that holds so many fond memories — named after her.
“Our family has kayaked under this bridge and canoed for years, and had many picnics at Playwicki,” she said. “Waking up and missing our daughter everyday is a struggle. But having wonderful family, friends and the support of our community makes things a little better.”
Sarah’s brother Kevin detailed how special of a person Sarah was beyond her duty to her country. She had the ability to light up a room and offer a laugh, word of encouragement or helping hand, no matter how busy her own life was.
“This bridge will forever stand as a tribute to her, her strength, her dedication and her ability to connect with those around her,” he said. “May this bridge inspire others to live with the same love, commitment and sense of purpose that Sarah carried throughout her life.”
Vicki Brennan, Sarah’s aunt and godmother, was also present to reflect on the exact moment her niece set her sights on becoming part of the armed forces. When Sarah was 12, Brennan took her on a trip to see her son graduate from Navy boot camp.
“Sarah loved the trip. She told me she was a proud American and, when she grew up, she would be in the Navy, too. I said, ‘OK, Sarah,’” Brennan recalled. “Sarah volunteered that fateful day [in 2018] when they needed an officer. She would be so honored to have this bridge dedicated in this community that she loved. I am sure Sarah is smiling today.”
The Mitchells were presented with a flag, which was flown over the Capitol, by Peter Chong, a veteran and the assistant district director for U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, who was unable to attend.
“With every step, from training to deployment, she showed courage, commitment and relentless drive to protect those she held dear, and millions of others she would never meet. Her service wasn’t just a job. It was a calling. She knew the risks, she faced the dangers, but she did so willingly standing shoulder to shoulder with her sisters and brothers in arms, always moving forward, always focused on a mission and always putting others before herself,” said Chong. “The renaming of this bridge ensures that the legacy of Sarah’s sacrifice is enshrined in the daily life of our community.”
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
