Riverside Boulevard beach saw nearly 150 swimmers hit the water Sunday morning for the 14th annual Long Beach Lifeguard Memorial Swim. The recurring event, organized by The City of Long Beach Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with the Beach Patrol, serves as a direct tribute to commemorate the deceased men and women who have served on Beach Patrol, helping to protect beachgoers over the years.
Council Members Michael Reinhart, George Ennis and Tracey Johnson enjoyed the day, cheering on the participants tackling the open water race. Competitors ranged from 14-year-old Teagan Sullivan, of New York City, to 81-year-old Charles Wittman, also from New York City.
On land, near the end of the Riverside Boulevard parking lot, a lifeguard memorial structure is proudly displayed. The setup includes a canoe which washed ashore, flotation barrels previously used in the water to designate safe swimming areas and wooden markers notating references to lifeguard work — from “The Shack,” the old lifeguard headquarters, to Azores Rock Pool.
Skudin Surf was a sponsor of the day, continuing Skudin’s consistent support of the Beach Patrol. Last month, Skudin Surf donated a set of rescue boards, each one specifically dedicated to the memory of a Long Beach Lifeguard, including Captain Bernie Beirne, Michael Berube, Sherman Brown, Ray Ellmer, Gerrin Hagen, Michael Kiefer, Josh Krauss, Teague Murphy, John Nash, Assistant Chief George Schilling and Richard Wagner.
–Chris Colucci