Thank you to everyone who made the twenty-ninth annual Lifesavers Recognition Day a success. Each year, Egan Maritime Institute partners with the Nantucket Cottage Hospital to honor all of Nantucket’s first responders and citizens who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.
Nantucket’s history is full of stories of heroic lifesaving efforts. The Mass Humane Society had an informal motto that still rings true today, "You have to go out, but you don't have to come back." For centuries, Nantucketers have left the warmth and comfort of their homes to venture forth in search of shipwreck survivors and others in need, with no thought to their safety, inspired by a sense of decency and humanity. The individuals we honored with the Maurice Gibbs Commendation Awards are the 21st-century incarnation of the lifesavers of yesteryear.
Furthermore, the Mass Humane Society’s motto was taken to its extreme as we witnessed over and over again numerous acts of bravery and heroism on September 11, 2001. We hold this ceremony on September 11th to shine an uplifting and encouraging light on current-day rescues and to make new memories that will never hide or cover the atrocities that happened but can hopefully add love, compassion, and hope on such a solemn day.
We applaud the 2023 recipients for their selflessness and bravery. We are so thankful they were all in the right place at the right time. They all did what they could to ensure those around them remained safe. Congratulations to the following: Dr. Faith Frable, David Tearse, Nantucket Lifeguard, Austin Pronovost, Nantucket Lifeguard, Anthony Bellabona, Nantucket Lifeguard, Capt. Frank Hanlon, FF David Angelastro, FF Corey Ray, FF Raymond McClure, Wynter Larabee, Era Kever.
We’d also like to praise all our Island’s First Responders for their exemplary citizenship. We are grateful that they continue to go out of their way, like the lifesavers of old, to bravely and selflessly help strangers in need.
For those interested in learning more about the history of lifesaving on Nantucket, we invite you to visit the Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum at 158 Polpis Road. Additionally, we encourage anyone inspired by the 2023 recipients to support the 2023 Lifesavers Recognition Day Ceremony and future ceremonies by donating. You can do so by clicking Here.
Sincerely,
Jessica S. Guff, Chair of the Lifesavers Recognition Day Committee
Carlisle Jensen, Executive Director of Egan Maritime Institute
