What’s in a name?

For Calumet City police Officer Tyler Newkirk, it means the world.

Pittsburgh couple Jeremiah and Ashley Good named their 2-month-old son Sebastian Tyler Good in honor of Newkirk for his heroism when Jeremiah was shot at a Fourth of July party in Calumet City.

Newkirk, 26, a two-year member of the force, received a surprise honor from his boss, Chief Kevin Kolosh, and an appearance from the Goods at the beginning of Monday’s City Council meeting.

Newkirk was all smiles when he met Sebastian Tyler Good and reacquainted with Jeremiah and Ashley. He was honored with Sebastian’s middle name.

“I thought that only happened in TV shows and movies,” Newkirk said. “That’s something that I’ll forever be grateful for. We will always be linked, and I will stay in touch.”

The gunshot wound, which was caused by errant celebration gunfire, took a physical toll on Jeremiah. But it was Ashley, who was six months pregnant, who also needed the aid of Newkirk.

Ashley is a Calumet City native and was visiting family during the Fourth of July. She said at first people at the party thought he was struck by a firework.

When Newkirk arrived and ascertained it was a bullet, Jeremiah was taken to a hospital and kept him calm until Ashley arrived.

“I was having a high-risk pregnancy,” she said. “When I got to the hospital, no one would really tell me anything. Officer Newkirk was the first one to come out to tell me he was OK.

“He cracked some jokes and made me feel better. I was so stressed out at the time. If he wouldn’t have been there, I’m not sure the baby would have been OK and if we would be a happy family for Christmas this year.”

Newkirk, who grew up in Glenwood, said he was first on the scene and insisted any other officer on the Calumet City force would have reacted the same way.

Kolosh complimented Newkirk’s actions at the council meeting.“He displayed extraordinary professionalism, compassion and emotional intelligence during a critical and traumatic incident,” Kolosh said. “His actions exemplify the high standards of service and make him candidate for the medal of distinction.”

The Good family returned to spend time with Ashley’s family for the holiday and to try to reconnect with Newkirk.

This holiday was a lot less hectic and traumatic than the visit in the summer.

Police said the bullet was fired into the air from an unknown location and, on its descent, struck Jeremiah Good. Family members on scene did not report hearing any gunfire.

Jeremiah and Ashley were walking out of a garage at 10 p.m. when the bullet struck a region near his shoulder.

“I was more worried about Ashley and the baby than myself,” Jeremiah said. “We were just going to go out and shoot some fireworks off. If I would have stepped forward a little bit more, it could have ricocheted and hit her. A lot of things could have happened.”

Ashley was right behind him when the bullet struck.

“My brother called his name, and he turned his head,” Ashley said. “If it hadn’t hit him, it could have very well hit me being pregnant or it could have killed him if it was a second off.”

Meanwhile, Newkirk said he had no idea Monday when he climbed the steps to the second floor at City Hall what was in store for him.

“They told me I was going to be recognized for something,” Newkirk said. “I had no clue what it was. I showed up and this was my surprise.”

He saw the Goods being interviewed by a television reporter before the meeting, but it didn’t click with him until Kolosh started talking about the events of July 4.

Newkirk said during that time, he and Jeremiah bantered about football with Good being a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and Newkirk faithfully following the Baltimore Ravens.

Meanwhile, the Goods have not made plans for the next Fourth of July holiday, but it will likely not be a return trip to Illinois.

“We might be staying in Pennsylvania for that,” Ashley said with a smile.

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.