Belltown near Lewes in Sussex County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

In Honor of Ted Freeman

Astronaut • Apollo Branch

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 3, 2022

1. In Honor of Ted Freeman Marker

Inscription.
Theodore C. Freeman – Lewes Native
Ted Freeman was born in Haverford, Pennsylvania on February 18, 1930 but his family moved to Lewes, Delaware before he was 18 months old. Freeman was educated at Lewes schools and graduated in 1948 from Lewes High School. Aviation was Freeman's passion from a young age and on his 16th birthday Freeman earned his pilot's license and began flying for Fish Products Company in Lewes. Flying over the Atlantic Ocean Freeman would scan the seas for schools of menhaden. These bony fish were coveted for their oil and ground into fertilizer. Freeman helped build Lewes into America into America's largest fishing port in the 1950's. Freeman played right field for the Lewes High School baseball team and was also a member of the football team despite his slight stature. He was the President of the National Honor Society and of the Lewes Student Council. Ted could often be found at the Rehoboth Airport where he had a part time job or at the Rehoboth Presbyterian Church at Midway.

Theodore C. Freeman — Astronaut
Ted Freeman was nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland by Senator

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John J. Williams. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1953 and chose to enter the U.S. Air Force. After two years of flying experience Freeman graduated from the Aerospace School at Edwards Air Force Base in California. In 1963 NASA selected him as one of 14 astronauts to be part of Projects Gemini and Apollo. Freeman was assigned to the Apollo branch alongside Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Gene Cernan and Gordon Cooper.

Ted Freeman was the first astronaut to lose his life in America's pursuit of space exploration. He died on Oct. 31, 1964 during a routine flight training run when a flock of geese caused both engines of his T-38A Talon jet to fail. Ted was able to bank the aircraft away from a path towards military housing near Ellington Air Force Base in Texas. It was a split second decision that saved the lives of countless people on the ground but cost him his own. All 28 astronauts attended his funeral in Houston, Texas and his burial at Arlington National Cemetery. It was the first and is still, to this day, the only time every astronaut on active duty has gathered at the same place at the same time.

Theodore C. Freeman — Legacy
Ted

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 3, 2022

2. In Honor of Ted Freeman Marker

Freeman was was not only the first American but most likely the first person worldwide to die in pursuit of the stars. Freeman left behind quite a legacy which includes having two Freeman Libraries named after him, both in the State of Texas, one in Harris County and one in Houston. There was a crater on the Moon temporarily named the Freeman Crater by the Apollo 8 Crew. The Theodore C. Freeman Highway in Lewes, Delaware which connects U.S. Route 9 and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry was named after him by a resolution of the Delaware Senate on December 21, 1965. Freeman's grave at Arlington National Cemetery is one of particular distinction and is noted in the cemetery guides as one of our nation's preeminent explorers. As future generations return to the Moon, set foot on foreign planets and explore the far reaches of our Universe the contributions and sacrifices of Theodore C. Freeman of Lewes, Delaware will be honored and remembered. Members of his family still live and farm in the Lewes area.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Animals • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is February 18, 1930.

Location. 38° 45.007′ N,

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 3, 2022

3. In Honor of Ted Freeman Marker

75° 9.938′ W. Marker is near Lewes, Delaware, in Sussex County. It is in Belltown. It can be reached from Savannah Road (Business U.S. 9) 0.1 miles east of North Village Main Boulevard, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1610 Savannah Rd, Lewes DE 19958, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Delaware’s Beaches.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Coursey-Daisey Nanticoke Indian Burial Ground (approx. ¼ mile away); Israel United Methodist Church (approx. half a mile away); Janet Nowakowski (approx. 0.9 miles away); Coach William W. "Bill" Collick (approx. 0.9 miles away); Coach Janet Maull-Martin (approx.

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0.9 miles away); Coach PJ Kesmodel (approx. 0.9 miles away); Ruth Sponaugle Skoglund (approx. 0.9 miles away); Carolyn Ivins (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lewes.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 18, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 586 times since then and 51 times this year. Last updated on July 8, 2023, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 4, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.