The executive board of the International Surf Festival is proud to announce the 2023 Lifeguard Medal of Valor dinner on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at the King Harbor Yacht Club in Redondo Beach. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
In addition to recognizing heroic lifeguards, the theme of the dinner will be “Celebrating 50 Years of Women Lifeguards,” which will be marked with recollections of women who have set the gold standard for ocean lifeguarding.
In addition, the Lifeguard Medal of Valor dinner will recognize two Medal of Valor honorees, a trio of lifeguards who have each earned the Distinguished Service Award, and one Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lifeguard Captain Gevorg Akopyan will receive the Medal of Valor for thwarting an abduction of a 2 ½ year-old child on Santa Monica beach. Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Sam O’Hare will receive the Medal of Valor for his heroic actions in response to a mass casualty incident resulting from gunfire at White Point/Royal Palms Beach. Ocean Lifeguards Sydney Brouwer, John Pearce and Erin Swift will receive the Distinguished Service Award for their quick response and decisive actions by performing CPR and successfully resuscitating a patient in very chaotic circumstances.
Retired Chief Lifeguard Steve Moseley will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his notable career accomplishments and numerous meaningful contributions to the profession of ocean lifeguarding. Tickets for the Medal of Valor dinner can be purchased on Eventbrite (2023-mov.eventbrite.com). You can also use the “Register On Line” button on the Lifeguard Valor Awards page on the International Surf Festival website, surffestival.org.