Jones Beach lifeguards honored for lifesaving service and selfless acts
Lifeguards in New York are not officially recognized as first responders despite that they save thousands of lives every year.
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The Jones Beach Lifeguard Association honored on Saturday three lifeguards whose contributions have made a lasting impact on the lifeguarding community.
Lifeguards in New York are not officially recognized as first responders despite that they save thousands of lives every year.
One of those honorees was Brandon Cullen, who donated a kidney to a friend and fellow lifeguard three years ago. Cullen received the Selfless Act of Altruism Award.
Kidney recipient Joe Curry reflected on the life-changing gift.
"Brandon, you gave me my kidney. You gave me my life back," Curry said. "There's no way I could ever repay it. And that's the type of guy that Brandon is."
Cullen said both men are doing well years after the transplant. Receiving the award was especially meaningful, Cullen said, because of the team he has worked alongside for years.
"It feels great that I get to be a part of such a great team here," Cullen said.
The association said narrowing down the list of potential honorees was no easy task.
"We wanted to do something like this for the lifeguards because it's never been done," said Stuart Kaplan, of the Jones Beach Lifeguard Association. "There were probably 50 to 75 people we could have honored, but we narrowed it down."
David Spence was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award that recognized 60 years of service as a lifeguard.
"So apparently they decided just because I got old that they needed to honor me for a few things I've done in the past, which is kind of nice," Spence said.
Spence began lifeguarding in 1959 and has helped save countless lives over the decades. He said the work has always been rewarding.
"And when it gets busy, it's exciting," Spence said. "You're doing something that really needs to be done."
Scott Riegel was also recognized for founding the Jones Beach Junior Lifeguard Program. Riegel said the program teaches young participants critical water safety and rescue skills.
"They learn to save themselves in the water," Riegel said. "And they learn to actually run a rescue when they get a little older."
The program began in 2000 with just 12 children. Today, nearly 300 participate.
All three honorees said lifeguarding is about much more than making rescues. They say the friendships, teamwork and sense of community formed on the beach are what make the experience truly meaningful.
