On guard! Boy, they sure are.
My friend and former Hampton Bays resident Ed Walters is long past his lifeguarding days, but has regaled me with many stories of spending summers keeping watch on our shores. After a few of these, I started thinking: You know, people should know about this work. It’s pretty amazing.
There were a lot of things I really loved about this story by Christine Sampson, beautifully shot by Jeremy Garretson. I loved learning the multi-generational family history of so many East End lifeguards; I loved feeling the deep commitment that each and every one of them has for their community and keeping us all safe (and how many lifeguards also work at other life-saving first-responder callings that keep them on watch all year). And I especially was moved by how they all seem to have felt this work as a calling in life.
Said former East End lifeguard (and a multi-generational one, too): “There was nothing stronger in my life than the lifeguard community. It’s a very unique experience to have something you’re a part of your entire life. Spending that much time and achieving that much depth in a community is really rare.”
Read Chrissy’s story here — and next summer when you’re at the beach, maybe give the lifeguard on duty a thank you for their excellent service keeping us safe and sound.
