Off-duty Coast Guardsman rescued two boys from the surf
The two boys were swept out by the tide near the Siuslaw River North Jetty shortly before 4:30 p.m.
Fireman, Dana Gagliardi, a member of the Coast Guard Station Siuslaw River, rescued the boys and returned them to their parents on shore. Gagliardi stayed around until they were transferred to emergency medical service personnel.
Gagliardi said he saw a woman screaming hysterically about her son in the water while he was visiting the jetty.
According to KVAL Eugene, Gagliardi spotted the boys in the surf as they were being pulled further from the shore.
Gagliardi attempted to swim out to the boys in distress. After fighting through the breaking surf, he was able to reached one of the young boys, who grabbed a hold of his back, before he swam back to shore. The other young boy was able to swim back to shore safely with Gagliardi’s help.
The Coast Guard Sector North Bend sent an MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter crew and the Coast Guard Station Siuslaw River sent two 47-foot motor life boat crews to the scene. However, both boys were safely on the shore by the time they arrived.
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Remembering Those Who Have Fallen…
Flags will fly at half staff until noon today in honor of those who have fallen in service. The U.S. Flag Code specifies that all flags should be raised to the top of the staff at midday.
Several observances of Memorial Day are planned for the area today… in Florence there will be a ten am service at the Elks Lodge, followed by another at 11 at Veteran’s Memorial Park on West Bay Street. The Coast Guard will lay wreathes on the water following the ceremony. It’s organized by the American Legion, but several other veteran’s organizations and individuals are participating.
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Two traditions to honor fallen soldiers are traced to the Civil War era…. Setting aside one day to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers… Memorial Day was adopted by many northern communities in the mid 1860s, emulating a southern tradition that was meant to remember family members and friends who had passed away.
The Commander of the Army of the Republic, John A. Logan, issued the first official proclamation of Memorial Day in May of 1868. That was after several communities in upstate New York set aside one day in May to honor slain Civil War Soldiers by decorating their graves.
The tradition of playing “Taps” is associated with military funerals but it actually began as a way of signaling ‘lights out’ in military encampments. Shortly after the introduction of the simple, yet haunting melody, a funeral was held for a fallen soldier and the man’s commanding officer decided the traditional rifle volley over the soldier’s grave might trigger more fighting. So instead, he called in the bugler to play the ‘new’ tune.
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Drivers on Highway 101 south of Florence need to be prepared for delays beginning again tonight. Eugene Sand and Gravel is working on a pavement restoration project for the Oregon Department of Transportation between the Siuslaw River and the Lane-Douglas County Line eight miles south.
Most of the work is being done between 7 pm and 6 am in order to have minimal impact on traffic. But, that means motorists should expect up to 20-minute delays through that area weeknights through the end of August.
Some work will be done during daylight hours later this summer.
If you’re an early morning riser and go to work before six… allow yourself a little extra time as work on the Siuslaw River Bridge could also cause some delays as well.
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