Have you ever noticed that each year as a flood of beachgoers arrive to enjoy our precious Island beaches, the lifeguards stand ready? The police stand ready. The EMTs stand ready. Those who guard the lives of those who love this Island. They are a team on behalf of us. I have also seen how so many take this for granted. Please pause and consider.

This summer, I have watched how diligent and attentive and prepared our beach lifeguards are, in particular on South Beach in Katama.

Year after year this is so and this year it seems especially so. I wish to commend all who participate in the guarding of our lives and the lives of our visitors.

To be ready to guard our lives these beach guards swim the ocean waves approximately a mile, run the same distance back, do fitness training and then once ready for the day, sit on the towers warding off the tedium so they are able to move instantly into action. This is a tall order and they are meeting it with great success.

As a witness I have seen them jump into action multiple times this July on behalf of us, the beach-goers. Lives saved. Families protected. Kids scooped from the pounding surf.

Have you ever thanked them or stopped to appreciate that we can relax just a bit more because they are on guard?

I invite you to stop and thank the lifeguards. Offer them an appreciation and perhaps even a silly joke to break up the tedium and, most of all, to recognize that their presence is one that we benefit from daily throughout the summer.

Alaya Chadwick

Edgartown